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The New York Islanders have fired head coach Patrick Roy despite being in a tight playoff race.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche announced Roy’s trade for Peter DeBoer, who was fired by the Dallas Stars in June 2025.
The move comes with just four games left in the regular season for the Islanders, who are on a four-game losing streak into Sunday. And the streak comes with seven losses in their last 10 games.
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Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders directs benchwork 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 qualifying begins Sunday, the Islanders, once comfortably in position to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, sit in third place in the Metropolitan division with 89 points, which would give them a spot if the season ended today.
However, the Philadelphia Flyers (88 points) and Columbus Blue Jackets (88) are looking for that third and final division spot in the few games left. As a result, the Islanders are making a surprise trade in hopes that DeBoer can lead them to the playoffs within the next week.
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Roy’s departure comes after a loss in which the Carolina Hurricanes, who already clinched a playoff spot, were outshot 40-16 in a 4-3 loss to New York.
The Islanders aren’t the only NHL team to make a head coaching change with just days left in the regular season. The Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy from his position 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 the third and final position in their division, although the race is a little more comfortable for Las Vegas with a five-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings.
But while Tortorella is a stopgap move for Las Vegas, the Islanders are keeping DeBoer intact heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
DeBoer has been the head coach of five different franchises throughout his extensive coaching career. He owns a career record of 662-447-152 in 1,261 games with the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Golden Knights and the Stars, whom he managed for the past three seasons before his dismissal.
Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders watches 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 hasn’t been with a team this season, but he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to help turn the tide on Long Island as the Islanders hope to make the playoffs after missing the previous two seasons.
While DeBoer has not coached this season, he was part of Jon Cooper’s Team Canada staff for the Milan Cortina Olympics earlier this year.
