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NHL: Islanders fire Patrick Roy, tab Pete DeBoer as coach

The New York Islanders have fired Patrick Roy after a four-game losing streak, naming Peter DeBoer as the team’s new head coach to lead them through the playoff push.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Reuters

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April 06, 2026

NHL: Islanders fire Patrick Roy, tab Pete DeBoer as coach

Mar 30, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy and players on the bench react during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at UBS Arena.

Brad Penner/Imagn Images/Reuters

The New York Islanders fired Hall of Famer Patrick Roy as the team's head coach Sunday and replaced him with Peter DeBoer.


The Islanders (42-31-5, 89 points) have lost a season-high four in a row and reside in third place in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. New York is idle until Thursday, when they'll host the Toronto Maple Leafs.


Roy, 60, posted a 97-78-22 record in three seasons since taking over for Lane Lambert as coach of the Islanders.


DeBoer, 57, guided the Dallas Stars to the Western Conference final in three straight seasons before being fired by the team on June 6. He posted a 149-68-29 record with Dallas.


DeBoer has a 662-447-152 coaching record with the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Golden Knights and Stars. He guided the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012 and the Sharks to the finals in 2016.


Roy was a four-time Stanley Cup champion and a three-time Vezina Trophy recipient during his playing days.


He is the fourth coach to be fired this season. Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason in Columbus on Jan. 12, D.J. Smith took over from Jim Hiller in Los Angeles on March 1 and John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with Vegas on March 29.


-Field Level Media/Reuters

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