Patrick Roy will remain head coach of the New York Icelanders, the new director general and executive vice-president Mathieu Darche said on Thursday during his introductory press conference.
Roy, 59, has a file of 55-47-17 since the replacement of Lane Lambert as an Icelanders coach on January 20, 2024. The renowned temple posted a bar of 35-35-12 last season but failed to guide the club towards the playoffs.
Deputy coaches John Maclean and Tommy Albelin will not return to the bench, said Darche.
Darche has not finished there, however.
When asked if he was interested in entertaining the offers for the first overall choice of the NHL 2025 draft, Darche was fast with an answer.
“Someone should really hit my socks to exchange this choice,” he said.
New York won the first global choice of the next NHL draft in 2025 earlier this month, despite the 10th best chance of winning the lottery at 3.5%.
Darche, 48, was director of hockey operations for the Lightning of Tampa Bay in the last six seasons. The Lightning has qualified for the playoffs each year of this section, in particular by capturing consecutive titles of the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 and appearing in the final in 2022.
Tabbette Managing Director and executive vice-president, Darche will replace Lou Lamoriello, who left the Icelanders last month after seven seasons.
– Field level media