Islanders fire coach Patrick Roy, hire Peter DeBoer in middle of playoff push

The New York Islanders are in postseason position with four games remaining in the NHL season. But with three wins in 10 games and four teams nipping at their heels, the Islanders made a major move. Consequently, New York fired head coach Patrick Roy on Sunday, April 5, and replaced him with longtime head coach Peter DeBoer.

SNY announced the move on X. MORE: Florida Panthers react as Stanley Cup reign ends with playoff elimination Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender, was in his third season as the Islanders’ coach after three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He turned in a 97-78-22 record with New York.

DeBoer, 57, served as an assistant coach for silver-medal-winning Team Canada in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. He coached for five teams — the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars — during an 18-year NHL coaching career. Though he has never won a Stanley Cup, DeBoer won conference crowns with the 2012 New Jersey Devils and 2016 San Jose Sharks.

His 97 playoff wins are the most for a coach who has yet to win a Stanley Cup. The Dallas Stars fired DeBoer after the 2024-25 season despite advancing to the Western Conference Final each year. Former Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer talks to his team.