Saturday’s firing of Lane Lambert as the Islanders head coach wasn’t news. The Islanders were a struggling team, winless during a recent road trip and 2-6-2 since December 31. While Lambert’s firing wasn’t surprising, the new hire got the hockey world’s attention.
On Saturday, the New York Islanders hired Hall of Famer Patrick Roy; no one saw that hire coming. Roy must believe it is worth his time to come to Long Island. Otherwise, why would he leave a secure job with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, especially when it means working for power-hungry Lou Lamoriello?
I don’t know if Roy (or any new head coach) will make much difference with this aging roster, but I do predict that the Islanders won’t be a dull team with Roy behind the bench.
While it’s evident that the players needed a new voice with a different perspective on how they should go about their business, it’s not Lambert’s fault that the team is old and slow. What else could he have done to get players to play their best? I’m having trouble answering that question, but I know management often responds by keeping players (the problem) and bringing in a new head coach (the presumed solution).
Will Roy be a better version of head man? Yes. One reason is Roy commands respect. Consider what he accomplished as an NHL player: three-time Vezina Trophy winner, three-time Conn Smythe winner, four-time Stanley Cup winner, and 11-time All-Star. Then, as a coach, he set the foundation for the Colorado Avalanche to be elite again, beginning in 2013 when he led the team to the playoffs in his first three seasons there.
So, I expect players will play hard, trying to make a positive impression on Roy. That’s to be assumed when a new coach comes in the door, especially in mid-season. While that response is anticipated, the big question is Roy’s reputation as a loose cannon. He won’t be reluctant to call out players, and he won’t coddle them, either. He may even go off on Lamoriello, as he did with Joe Sakic, his previous boss.
Roy is an aggressive guy, and that trait should influence the Islanders’ play. If there is a head coach who knows how to have his guys play open hockey instead of playing close to the vest, that coach is Patrick Roy. The challenge for him is that I doubt Roy has the players on the current roster to pull that off, but I know he’ll try.
If anything else, there’s going to be accountability. The team’s going to come out and be ready to play. They won’t be rolling over to teams, and they’ll play fast and tough with structure and organization. There’s a lot at stake.
The Islanders are at a critical juncture. It’s a tight Metropolitan Division race with teams jousting for playoff position in the ultra-competitive Wild Card race. At this point in the season, it is now or never, and that’s why I believe Lamoriello and ownership made a move on Saturday after NYI had lost four straight and won only two of the past 10 games. Still, heading to Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Stars, they are only two points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the last wild card spot. That means there is hope.
But let’s face it: this marriage will be built on the fly. Roy doesn’t know the organization and players well, and there’s not much time to figure out which adjustments will have the most impact. But rather than being a big negative, Roy is the kind of person who won’t be uncomfortable playing the cards he’s dealt.
With Roy, fans have a renewed reason to follow and believe in the Islanders. Give a ditto for why the Metro and NHL media should pay attention to this club. Just the curiosity factor alone makes Roy a great hire.
