Islanders relieve Roy of duties, hire DeBoer as new head coach

The New York Islanders have relieved head coach Patrick Roy of his duties and have hired Peter DeBoer as his replacement, general manager Mathieu Darche announced on Sunday.

The Islanders sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a 42-31-5 record this season, but have lost four straight games and seven of their past 10. The club has four games remaining in the season as it looks to clinch a playoff spot, beginning on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Carolina Hurricanes.

DeBoer, 57, last coached with the Dallas Stars from 2022-23 through the 2024-25 season. He finished his tenure in Dallas with a 149-68-29 record, leading them to the Western Conference Final in each of his three seasons with the team.

DeBoer has a 662-447-152 record in 1,261 games as an NHL head coach with the Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Florida Panthers. He has reached the Stanley Cup Final twice as a head coach, once with New Jersey in 2012 and again with San Jose in 2016.

The Dunnville, Ont. native has a perfect 9-0 record in Game 7s, the most Game 7 wins in NHL coaching history.

DeBoer was also an assistant coach with Team Canada at Milano Cortina 2026 and at the Four Nations Face-Off in 2025.

Roy, 60, was in his third season as head coach of the Islanders, where he posted a 97-78-22 record in 197 games. He was hired partway through the 2023-24 season as a replacement for then-head coach Lane Lambert.

According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Roy had two years remaining on his contract.