The New York Islanders cold keep Patrick Roy behind the bench to soften the transition for the team’s new GM, buying the club more time for major decisions.
The New York Islanders might opt to keep Patrick Roy on the bench for at least another season to help ease the transition for their incoming general manager.
Arthur Staple of The Athletic recently floated the possibility, suggesting the organization may choose not to part ways with Roy right away. Instead, the Islanders could leverage Roy’s familiarity with the team and recent experience in Long Island to support the front office during this period of change.
It’s a logical move. Given that Roy and former GM Lou Lamoriello didn’t always see eye to eye on roster construction and overall team direction, the dynamic has now shifted with Lamoriello no longer in the picture.
Throughout the season, tension between the two was one of several storylines that drew attention. Now, with Lamoriello gone and despite prominent names like Mike Sullivan becoming available, the Islanders might still choose continuity with Roy.
Even if they explore other coaching options, retaining Roy would offer valuable consistency. It would also allow the team to shape its roster around a familiar system rather than overhauling both the coaching and management at once.
Why dumping Patrick Roy now would be a mistake
In a previous article, I noted that the New York Islanders’ current situation closely mirrors what the Toronto Maple Leafs experienced when Brad Treliving replaced Kyle Dubas in the summer of 2023.
Back then, the Leafs chose to keep head coach Sheldon Keefe for another season while Treliving got acclimated to the organization. Keefe was given a chance to prove himself but ultimately failed to get Toronto past the first round, leading to his dismissal.
The Islanders could take a similar approach this season by allowing their new GM to keep Patrick Roy in place for another year. It would give Roy an opportunity to show he wasn’t the root of last season’s problems.
Cutting ties with Roy right now, however, could be a misstep. Bringing in both a new coach and GM at the same time could resemble the start of a full-blown rebuild. That kind of upheaval may leave players uncertain about their roles and the team’s direction heading into the new season.
A complete reset would also require time for the new leadership to implement their vision, potentially costing the team the early part of the season. And if things don’t gel quickly, the Islanders could find themselves wasting another year.
The more practical approach would be to make the leadership transition as smooth as possible — and keeping Roy around could provide the stability needed while the front office maps out its next steps.
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