Here's what New York Islanders legend John Tonelli had to say about head coach Patrick Roy.
Here's what New York Islanders legend John Tonelli had to say about head coach Patrick Roy.
ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello relieved head coach Lane Lambert of his duties after a 0-3-1 road trip as he believed there was no sign of the losing coming to an end.
In came the energetic, motivational, and accountable Patrick Roy to try to turn the ship around.
So far, the Islanders own a 3-3-1 record with Roy behind the bench, but they've played some of their best hockey of the season under their new head coach.
Roy, who won four Stanley Cups during his playing days before entering the Hockey Hall of Fame as one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, wants to win, and he's d doing everything he can to pave the way to success, short-term and long-term.
Ahead of Tuesday night's showdown with the Seattle Kraken, Islanders legend John Tonelli was asked about what he thought of Roy.
"It's got to be pretty hard to be a coach, right," Tonelli said. "I mean, I think there's one guy who was the best coach I ever had, and that was Al Arbour. I always think back, like, how do you make 24-25 guys all happy and all driving toward the same goal? That's a tough task, and yet, some coaches can get it. Some coaches can't.
"I know, for sure, Lane [Lambert] tried his best. He tried 120 or 130 percent to get our team to play with more [energy]. It's not that it's not there. It's there. I love these guys. We got a great team. And when we are firing on all cylinders, were going to a lot of good things."
Tonelli believes Roy can get the Islanders to where they want to go.
"We bring in a guy like Patrick, who is an automatic character. And he's fiery. There's no doubt about it," Tonelli said. "He's gonna get the guys juiced up and ready to go. I'm not gonna lie to you. That's the way I played the game. You know, ready to go. A lot of energy. If I didn't play with that energy, I was not effective."