NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The New York Islanders have fired head coach Patrick Roy despite being in a close playoff race.
Islanders GM Mathieu Darche announced the move from Roy to Peter DeBoer, who was fired by the Dallas Stars in June 2025.
The move comes with just four games remaining in the regular season for the Islanders, who are riding a four-game losing streak entering Sunday. And the streak comes with seven losses in their last 10 games.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy administers bench duties during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec on March 21, 2026. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
As the NHL standings enter Sunday, the Islanders, once comfortably in position to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs, sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points, which would earn them a spot if the season ended today.
However, the Philadelphia Flyers (88 points) and Columbus Blue Jackets (88) are chasing the third and final division spot in the few games that remain. As a result, the Islanders are making the surprising change in hopes that DeBoer can get them in the playoffs over the course of next week.
HOCKEY OFFICIALS REJECT CANADIAN COACHES’ COMPLAINTS ABOUT 3-ON-3 OVERTIME RULE AFTER OLYMPIC LOSS
Roy’s exit comes after a loss in which the Carolina Hurricanes, already clinched a playoff spot, outscored them 40-16 in a 4-3 loss to New York.
The Islanders aren’t the only NHL team making a head coaching change with just days left in the regular season. The Vegas Golden Knights relieved Bruce Cassidy of his role 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, NJ on February 5, 2026. (Rich Graessle/NHLI)
Like the Islanders, the Golden Knights (86) hold the third and final spot in their division, although the race is a bit more comfortable for Vegas with a five-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings.
But while Tortorella is a temporary move for Vegas, the Islanders are keeping DeBoer intact heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
DeBoer has been the head coach of five different franchises during 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 Stars, whom he managed in the last three seasons before his firing.
New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy looks on during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY on April 3, 2026. (Steven Ryan/NHLI)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
DeBoer was not with a team this season, but he raises the possibility of helping turn things around on Long Island as the Islanders hope to make the playoffs after missing out on the previous two seasons.
Although DeBoer has not coached this season, he was part of Jon Cooper’s Team Canada staff for the Cortina Olympics in Milan earlier this year.
