Nobody saw this coming. On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, the New York Islanders made one of the most stunning coaching moves of the NHL season — firing legendary goalie turned coach Patrick Roy with just four games remaining in the regular season. The move sent shockwaves across the hockey world and immediately became one of the top trending searches in the USA.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Patrick Roy firing and what it means for the Islanders.
Patrick Roy Is Out — The Announcement
New York Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche announced today that Patrick Roy has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities. Peter DeBoer has been named Head Coach of the New York Islanders.
The timing is jaw-dropping. The New York Islanders made this surprising coaching change on Easter Sunday, with four games remaining in their regular-season schedule, firing Patrick Roy and bringing in Pete DeBoer for the rest of the season. What makes it even more shocking is that the Islanders are currently sitting in a playoff spot — making this one of the boldest in-season coaching moves in recent NHL memory.
Patrick Roy’s Record With the Islanders
Roy arrived in New York as part of an in-season coaching change and spent three seasons behind the bench. The 60-year-old went 97-78-22 in three seasons after taking over for Lane Lambert, who was fired January 20, 2024.
His tenure had plenty of highlights. Roy went 20-12-5 in his first season with the Islanders, leading them to the playoffs, where they would fall in five games in the first round. The team took a step back last season, going 35-35-12, but appeared to have rebounded this season, fueled by star rookie Matthew Schaefer.
But the end came fast. The Islanders have lost a season-high four in a row and seven of 10 games since March 18, while getting outscored 37-26. With the playoff spot hanging by a thread, the front office decided it was time for a change.
What Went Wrong for Patrick Roy?
Just one week ago, everything looked fine. New York won three games on its four-game homestand, and although a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks was deflating, a regulation win over the rival Blue Jackets gave the team a significant boost. But the wheels came off in a hurry.
Patrick Roy did not hide from responsibility after Friday’s 4-1 Islanders loss to Philadelphia, saying: “I’ll take part of the blame for the first period. I have a job to do to make sure our team is ready to play a strong game.” In that game, the Islanders went down 2-0 and did not record a shot through the first 13:15 of play.
Roy was a coach who wore his accountability on his sleeve — but in the NHL, accountability without results only goes so far. The Islanders are third in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. Philadelphia has two games in hand; Columbus has one. That paper-thin margin is what ultimately cost Roy his job.
Who Is Peter DeBoer — and Why Did the Islanders Pick Him?
The Islanders didn’t just fire Patrick Roy — they had a replacement ready immediately, and it’s a big name. DeBoer has a 662-447-152 record in 1,261 games as an NHL head coach with the Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Florida Panthers. He has reached the Stanley Cup Final twice as a head coach, once with New Jersey in 2012 and again with San Jose in 2016. He has a perfect 9-0 record in Game 7s — the most Game 7 wins in NHL coaching history.
That last stat is the one that matters most right now. If the Islanders can survive the final four games and sneak into the playoffs, they’ll have the most clutch Game 7 coach in NHL history behind the bench. That’s exactly the kind of insurance policy a desperate front office buys when the playoffs are on the line.
Unlike other recent mid-season coaching changes, this hire has not been made with just a one-year term. DeBoer’s contract to coach the Islanders reportedly includes multiple years. This is not a panic hire — this is a long-term bet on DeBoer to rebuild the Islanders into a contender.
Patrick Roy: A Hockey Legend Whose Legacy Goes Beyond Coaching
Regardless of how his tenure with the Islanders ended, Patrick Roy is one of the greatest figures in the history of hockey. Widely considered the best goalie of his generation, Roy won four Stanley Cups, three Conn Smythe Trophies, and three Vezina Trophies during his legendary playing career with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.
His transition to coaching was always going to be scrutinized against that towering legacy. Roy, who was widely considered one of the greatest goalies of all time during his playing days, won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2013-14 with the Colorado Avalanche — proving he had real coaching chops. His time with the Islanders was a step forward, a step back, and ultimately, a step out the door.
Roy had two years remaining on his deal as Islanders coach. The team will owe him the remaining value of that contract — a significant financial commitment that underlines just how desperate this situation had become.
What Happens Next for the Islanders?
With four games left and a playoff spot that could evaporate overnight, the pressure on Peter DeBoer is immediate and enormous. The Islanders are off until Thursday, when they’ll host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 6:45 p.m. ET. DeBoer will have just a few days to install his system, get the locker room on his side, and try to pull off one of the most dramatic late-season coaching turnarounds in recent memory.
DeBoer was also an assistant coach with Team Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and at the Four Nations Face-Off in 2025 — so he arrives in New York sharp, motivated, and hungry for a head coaching job after being let go by Dallas last off-season.
The Islanders fired Patrick Roy to save their season. Now it’s DeBoer’s job to deliver.
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