Despite a challenging season, the New York Islanders are keeping their current coaching leadership.
General Manager Mathieu Darche, recently appointed, announced on Thursday that Patrick Roy will continue as the team`s head coach for the upcoming season. Roy completed his first full season with the Islanders, guiding them to a 35-35-12 record.
However, Darche also stated that assistant coaches John MacLean and Tommy Albelin will not be returning.
Roy originally joined the Islanders midway through the 2023-24 season after Lane Lambert`s dismissal on January 20, 2024. He helped the team achieve a 20-12-5 record and secure a playoff spot that year, where they were defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
However, the team couldn`t maintain that momentum in the recent season. A difficult final two months, resulting in a 9-10-5 record, caused them to miss the playoffs and enter the draft lottery. They concluded the season sixth in the Metropolitan Division.
The team`s offensive performance declined significantly. Their average of 2.71 goals per game ranked fifth-worst league-wide, and their 26 power-play goals were tied for last with the Anaheim Ducks. Furthermore, their penalty kill was second-worst in the league at 72.2 percent efficiency.
No individual player reached the 60-point mark, with Bo Horvat leading the team in scoring with 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists).
Seeking a significant roster change, the Islanders traded veteran forward Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, they acquired promising center Calum Ritchie and several draft picks.
Despite the disappointing season outcome, the Islanders had a major success in the draft lottery, earning the first overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.
Darche joined the Islanders from the Tampa Bay Lightning last week, following the team`s decision in April to move on from former president and general manager Lou Lamoriello.
