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The New York Islanders have fired head coach Patrick Roy despite a tight playoff run.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche announced Roy’s move to Peter DeBoer, who was fired by the Dallas Stars in June 2025.
The move comes with just four games remaining in the regular season for the Islanders, who are on a four-game losing streak entering Sunday. And the streak is accompanied by seven defeats in their last 10 games.
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Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders handles bench duties during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec on March 21, 2026. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
As NHL standings begin Sunday, the Islanders, who were once comfortably in position to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points, which would give them one spot if the season ended today.
However, the Philadelphia Flyers (88 points) and Columbus Blue Jackets (88) are aiming for the third and final division spot in the few remaining games. As a result, the Islanders are making a surprise move in hopes that DeBoer can get them to the playoffs next week.
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Roy’s departure comes after a loss in which the Carolina Hurricanes, who had already secured a playoff berth, beat them 40-16 in a 4-3 loss for New York.
The Islanders are not the only NHL team to make a head coaching change a few days before the end of the regular season. The Vegas Golden Knights relieved Bruce Cassidy of his role and hired veteran coach John Tortorella on an interim basis last week.
Patrick Roy coaches the New York Islanders during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on February 5, 2026. (Rich Graessle/NHLI)
Like the Islanders, the Golden Knights (86) occupy third and last position in their division, even if the race is a little more comfortable for Vegas with five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings.
But, even though Tortorella is a tentative move for Vegas, the Islanders are keeping DeBoer intact heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
DeBoer has been the head coach of five different franchises during his long coaching career. He has a career record of 662-447-152 in 1,261 games with the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Golden Knights and Stars, whom he managed the last three seasons before his firing.
Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders looks on during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY on April 3, 2026. (Steven Ryan/NHLI)
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DeBoer wasn’t with a team this season, but he’s rallying for an opportunity to help turn things around on Long Island, as the Islanders hope to make the playoffs after missing the previous two seasons.
Although DeBoer hasn’t coached this season, he was part of Jon Cooper’s Team Canada staff for the Milan Cortina Olympics earlier this year.
