Patrick Roy Named New York Islanders Head Coach After the Firing of Lane Lambert

The New York Islanders made a surprising midseason coaching change on Saturday, firing Lane Lambert and appointing Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy as their new head coach. Lou Lamoriello, the President of hockey operations and general manager, announced the decision amidst a disappointing season for the former Eastern Conference playoff contenders.

The Islanders, who have lost four out of their last six games, found themselves out of the playoff spot and in need of a shake-up. Roy, who hasn’t coached in the NHL for almost a decade, has been in consideration for several coaching vacancies in recent years.

Lane Lambert, who had been midway through his second season as head coach, was relieved of his coaching responsibilities. He had previously served as Barry Trotz’s right-hand man and was part of the coaching staff when the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Lambert became the fifth coach to be fired this season, joining Jay Woodcroft from the Edmonton Oilers, Dean Evason from the Minnesota Wild, Craig Berube from the St. Louis Blues, and D.J. Smith from the Ottawa Senators.

Patrick Roy, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and the third-winningest goalie in NHL history, brings a wealth of experience to the Islanders. He previously coached the Colorado Avalanche for three seasons from 2013 to 2016, winning the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year in 2013-14 after leading the team to the playoffs in Nathan MacKinnon‘s rookie season.

Throughout his career, Roy has been known for his competitiveness and passion. After retiring as a player, he began his coaching career with the Quebec Remparts, where he has spent the past five seasons as both coach and GM.