Islanders know Monday's game against Avalanche is meaningful for coach Patrick Roy
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy, center, looks on from behind centers Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat during the second period of an NHL game against the Dallas Stars on Saturday in Dallas. Credit: AP/LM Otero
DENVER — Patrick Roy was in no mood to discuss Monday night’s game against the Avalanche, his first against his former club since resigning as their coach in 2016, once his current team lost their second straight to open the season.
“Right now I don’t have any thoughts about that,” Roy said after the Islanders fell to the Stars, 3-0, to open a three-game road trip on Saturday night. “You could ask me the same question tomorrow, though.”
Actually, no, because the Islanders did not practice Sunday. But his current players know how meaningful this game will be to Roy.
“Oh, for sure,” said Anthony Duclair, who also was coached by Roy during his junior hockey career. “It’s a place where he won the [Stanley] Cup, the place where he had his first NHL gig. He won the Jack Adams there [as the NHL’s top coach in 2014]. It’s going to be a special one for him and we’re all going to be fired up to get the ‘W’ for him.”
Roy finished his Hall of Fame career as a goalie with the Avalanche after forcing a trade from the Canadiens, winning his third and fourth Cups in Colorado in 1996 and 2001.
He was hired to coach the Avalanche in 2013 and initially was given final say in personnel decisions.
But former teammate Joe Sakic, who had been hired as the vice president of hockey operations, was given the additional role of general manager in 2014.
Roy stepped down as the Avalanche coach in 2016 about a month before training camp opened, citing a lack of input into personnel decisions.
He went back into coaching and running the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He stepped down after winning the Memorial Cup in 2023, then was hired by Islanders president and GM Lou Lamoriello to replace the fired Lane Lambert on Jan. 20.
“I thought the phone would ring faster. But it did not,” Roy said the day he was hired, adding that he started to doubt he would ever get a second NHL coaching job.
The Islanders did not face the Avalanche last season after Roy took over. But his third game behind the Islanders’ bench brought him back to Montreal, where the Canadiens’ organization and fans treated him like a returning hero to Bell Centre, complete with a video tribute during the Islanders’ 4-3 loss.
Roy likely will receive the same kind of adoration on Monday night at Ball Arena.
“That’s cool,” Mathew Barzal said. “You saw what kind of ovation he got in Montreal and I’m sure it will be similar in Colorado with everything he accomplished there. So yeah, it’s another exciting game for us.
“100%,” Barzal added when asked if the players are motivated to win for Roy. “Patty’s got this room. We want to win for each other. But also circumstances like that, when we went to Montreal, there’s an extra little bit added to win for Patty. He’s one of us and we really respect him.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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