Why Patrick Roy’s Cup Rings & Fire Are The Perfect Fit For These Islanders

Patrick Roy is exactly what the New York Islanders need to turn their season around.

The New York Islanders needed a jolt, and general manager Lou Lamoriello delivered with Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy.  

Roy, a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, three-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and three-time Vezina Trophy Winner, was the ultimate competitor over his 19-year NHL career. 

The Quebec native wasn't as wild in his crease as Billy Smith but was known for his aggressiveness and short fuse, which carried over into his coaching career. 

After a stint as the bench boss of the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts, Roy got his first chance to be an NHL coach when he was hired by the Colorado Avalanche ahead of the 2013-14 season.

It was a season that ended in a Jack Adams Award before the club struggled over the next two seasons, leading to his departure following the 2015-16 campaign. 

The passion and fire that he boasted as a player was prevalent in his coaching career, and although he may have simmered down just a bit after his second stint coaching the Remparts -- winning the Memorial Cup in 2023 -- the fire and passion is why Lamoriello brought him to Long Island. 

"He's firey. He loves the game. He's got a passion for both, and I think it's great. I think it's going to be great for our players," Lamoriello said as New York is currently on a four-game slide (0-3-1).

"And then Patrick said that he enjoyed the conversation that he had with me. Well, it was reversed. I enjoyed the conversation because the passion came through loud and clear. He loves the game, and you have to love this game to want to be successful. So I'm excited to get going, which we will immediately as soon as this conference is over. We'll start thinking about tomorrow."

Despite having two coaches from 2018 through Jan. 19, 2024 -- with Barry Trotz and then Lane Lambert -- Roy is the Islanders' first new voice in quite some time.

Aside from that fire and passion, structure, and discipline is something that he demanded from his players at the NHL level and at the junior level.

The Islanders were once the most well-structured team on the face of the earth during Trotz's first four years on Long Island, as he demanded that players do the little things on a nightly basis or risk coming out of the lineup. 

It was Trotz's system and understanding of the Islanders’ strengths and weaknesses that led to back-to-back semi-final appearances (2020, 2021).

But since Trotz left the island after being relieved of his duties following the 2021-22 season, the Islanders lost that structure that made them a force to be reckoned with, struggling to adapt to a more offensive system under Lambert. 

They seemed to grasp the offensive game but what crushed their ability to be consistent, especially here in 2023-24, was their inability to play solid in their own zone. 

They have been undisciplined in their decision-making, and it's led to points being thrown away and, recently, a fall in the Metropolitan Division standings. 

Just how important is team discipline and accountability? Look at a team like the Philadelphia Flyers under John Tortorella. 

Going into the season, everyone expected them to struggle in the second year of a rebuild, but they have been able to win consistently, sittinf second in the Metro, because of that attention to detail, being one of the most disciplined teams in the sport -- like the Islanders once were.

And if the Islanders want to get back to being a playoff-caliber team, that has the ability to go on. run, they need to get back to that discipline style of hockey. 

This Islanders’ roster is more talented offensively than any roster Trotz ever had, but that doesn’t mean they’re a team that can rely solely on offensive production. 

They did in the first half of the season, but they are dealing with the same issues yet again. But given their backend woes and defensive zone issues, they may not have what it takes to revert to Trotz's defense-only system, like they did in the second half of last season to sneak into the playoffs. 

But they may not need to be the defensive juggernauts because of the offense. 

Under Roy, they just need to strengthen their decision-making.

At the end of the day – and it’s a fact – defense wins championships, and that’s been the downfall of a ton of NHL regular-season juggernauts. 

Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Avalanche get exposed for their defensive zone failures when the schedule shifts from the regular season to the postseason. 

Roy is all about that structure and holding players accountable and knows that going forward, the Islanders have to pretend like it's the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the remainder 37 games of the season:

"It's playoff hockey for the Islanders from now on."

Just like the Islanders players will have a clean slate and the opportunity to make a good first impression for their new bench boss, Roy has to do the same for his players. 

He was hired to bring that fire and passion, as that coaching persona should prove to be the remedy this Islanders team needs to turn their season around 

Roy and the Islanders host the Dallas Stars on Sunday night at 7:30 PM.