Islanders Dismiss Patrick Roy, Install Peter DeBoer as Head Coach

After a four‑game losing streak that left the New York Islanders outside the playoff picture, general manager Mathieu Darche announced Sunday that head coach Patrick Roy had been relieved of his duties. The decision comes on the heels of a broader slump – the team has dropped seven of its last ten contests and sits with only four games remaining in the regular season.

Roy, a former Hall‑of‑Fame goaltender turned coach, became the fourth NHL head coach dismissed this season. In a swift move aimed at salvaging the playoff run, the organization named Peter DeBoer, who guided the Dallas Stars to multiple postseason appearances, as Roy’s replacement.

DeBoer inherits a roster desperate for consistency and a points surge. The timing underscores the franchise’s urgency: with the Atlantic Division tightly packed, a rapid turnaround could be the difference between a postseason berth and an early offseason.

The coaching change also signals a broader shift in the Islanders’ front office strategy under Darche, who took the helm only last year. As the club fights to right the ship, the next four games will serve as an immediate test of DeBoer’s impact.