What does history say about Islanders, Golden Knights late-season coaching change?

What does history say about Islanders, Golden Knights late-season coaching change? originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

For most of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, the coaching carousel was slow, almost too slow. As we approached the end of March, it was looking like we might get through a full season with just the one coaching change. But in a span of only eight days beginning on March 29, we’ve had two coaches fired, with the Vegas Golden Knights first firing Bruce Cassidy and hiring journeyman coach John Tortorella – then, on Sunday afternoon, the New York Islanders pink-slipped Patrick Roy, replacing him with former Dallas Stars bench boss Peter DeBoer.

Although there is a history of NHL GMs making late-season coaching changes, is there a track record of success that should reassure Golden Knights and Islanders fans that these moves will pay off? From this writer’s perspective, we’re not entirely sold. To begin, the Columbus Blue Jackets replaced Dean Evason with veteran Rick Bowness this season and received a major bump.

While the timing differs from that of the Golden Knights and Islanders, the Blue Jackets went on an outstanding run from January onwards, putting them in a playoff spot recently. They now sit two points back of a playoff spot while competing with six other teams. The verdict remains undetermined if their move completely pays off, but at the very least, it gave them a chance, something they didn’t have before.