Despite a difficult season, the New York Islanders are maintaining stability behind the bench.
General Manager Mathieu Darche announced that Patrick Roy will remain the Islanders` head coach for the upcoming season. Roy`s record in his first full season with the team was 35-35-12.
However, Darche stated that assistant coaches John MacLean and Tommy Albelin will not be returning.
Roy took over as head coach midway through the 2023-24 season after Lane Lambert was dismissed on January 20, 2024. He guided the team to a 20-12-5 record the rest of the way, helping them secure a playoff berth. They were subsequently eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Unfortunately, the Islanders could not sustain that momentum this past season. A poor stretch in the final two months, resulting in a 9-10-5 record, pushed the team out of the playoff picture and into the draft lottery. They finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division.
The team`s offense was a significant challenge, ranking fifth-worst in the league with an average of 2.71 goals per game. Their 26 power-play goals were tied for last place with the Anaheim Ducks. Their penalty kill also struggled, finishing as the second-worst in the league at 72.2 percent.
No player on the roster managed to reach the 60-point threshold, with Bo Horvat leading the team with 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists).
Seeking significant changes, the Islanders traded veteran forward Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for promising centre prospect Calum Ritchie and a package of draft picks.
Despite the lack of regular season success, the Islanders had a fortunate outcome in the draft lottery, securing the first overall selection in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.
Darche joined the Islanders last week from the Tampa Bay Lightning, following the team`s decision to part ways with former president and general manager Lou Lamoriello in April.
Neville Woodall