ELMONT, NY — Patrick Roy will return as head coach of the New York Islanders for the 2025-26 season, the team’s new general manager announced during his introductory press conference.
Roy failed to make the playoffs in his first full season as Islanders head coach after stepping in for the dismissed Lane Lambert midway through the 2023-24 campaign. New York went 35-35-12 — their worst season since 2017-18, which was the final year before the arrival of Lou Lamoriello as president and general manager.
Lamoriello’s contract was not renewed this offseason and will expire on June 30, immediately throwing Roy’s future into question, but Darche is an initial big believer in the Hall-of-Fame netminder-turned-bench boss.
“I think Patrick’s a winner,” Darche said. “He’s had success coaching when he came here the first year [leading the Islanders to the playoffs in 2023-24]… I’m excited to be working with him. I know he’s passionate. He works hard, and I just decided it was my decision to make changes in the coaching staff.”
While Roy is returning, assistant coaches John MacLean and Tommy Albelin will not. Both Darche and Roy will execute the search for a new coaching staff. Benoit Desrosiers, who followed Roy from his previous gig in the QMJHL, is expected to stay. The organization’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport will also get an entirely new coaching staff.
“I’m a new person coming in, I want a new [minor-league] staff moving us forward,” Darche said.
Roy is 55-47-17 in 119 games in charge with the Islanders. This is his second head-coaching gig after a tumultuous three-year stint with the Colorado Avalanche.
Known for his passion and tenacity, he has built a strong connection with his roster, and the normally outspoken bench boss might have a bit more freedom under this new regime — not only vocally, but in Darche’s desire to play “fast” and “attacking” hockey.
“It’s great,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “Look, [Darche has] got to come in and make a lot of decisions… For him to get together with Patrick and those guys, hash it out, and get to know one another, I think it’s great that he was able to make a decision on that moving forward with Patty.
“Patty’s got a good relationship with us and our ability to understand what he wants from us and how he wants us to play. I guess this is one more decision that has been made to help us continue moving in the right direction.”
For more on Patrick Roy, Mathieu Darche, and the Islanders, visit AMNY.com
