Patrick Roy, known for his explosive temperament and his daring decisions, once again made an impression during the last match of 2024.
But this time, it was in a way that left Islanders fans – and the entire NHL – speechless.
With a faceoff in his own territory, Roy made an inexplicable decision: remove his goalie to add an additional player.
The most ridiculous video clip of the year:
The result? A chaotic sequence which ended with an easy goal from the opposing team, sealing the defeat for the Islanders.
For many observers, this move was not a bold strategy but rather a desperate attempt – even an act of self-sabotage.
On social media, fans were quick to comment on this strange moment, interpreted as a clear message sent to Lou Lamoriello, the general manager of the Islanders.
“He wants to be fired, it’s obvious”wrote a user.
Another added: “Patrick Roy is telling Lamoriello: ‘I’m tired of your team.’ »
Analysis of the circumstances gives weight to this theory. The Islanders, stuck in a disappointing season, are currently far from the playoff spots.
Roy, stuck with an aging workforce with no future, may well have wanted to express his fed-up in a dramatic way.
This decision cannot be understood without returning to the well-documented tensions between Patrick Roy and Lou Lamoriello.
Since his arrival as coach of the Islanders, Roy has faced a restrictive environment, where every decision seemed dictated by the veteran general manager’s conservative style.
Lamoriello, known for his rigid approach and his tendency to favor veterans, built an aging team, lacking depth and relief.
Roy, accustomed to greater autonomy, finds himself in a situation where he does not have the means to impose his vision.
This context inevitably led to friction, exacerbated by the Islanders’ poor results this season.
Fan reactions: an explosion on social networks
Roy’s decision to withdraw his goalkeeper in such a risky situation caused an avalanche of reactions on social networks.
While some found the gesture amusing or daring, the majority of comments were merciless:
“Patrick Roy is the least intelligent coach in the league. »
“He wants to lose to send a message to Lou. It’s obvious. »
“With one of the best centers for faceoffs, why risk it? This is insane. »
Some, however, tried to defend Roy, pointing out that the gesture was perhaps a last desperate gamble to try to equalize.
But even these defenders could not ignore the chaotic aspect of the decision.
A clear message: “I’m tired”
This decision, as strange as it may be, seems to be the culmination of a growing frustration within Patrick Roy.
Since the start of the season, he has expressed, often indirectly, his dissatisfaction with the Islanders’ situation.
The team, poorly built, does not have the necessary tools to compete with the best teams in the league.
With veterans like Anders Lee, Kyle Palmieri, and Brock Nelson struggling to keep up, and an almost non-existent backup, Roy is caught in a vicious cycle.
He doesn’t have the time or resources to rebuild this team, and his tensions with Lamoriello leave little hope of improvement.
Is Patrick Roy requesting his dismissal? To ask the question is to answer it.
Many observers are convinced that this gesture is a way for Patrick Roy to subtly request his dismissal.
Because he can’t resign like he did in Colorado. His NHL career would be over.
After all, removing your goalie in such a risky situation – and almost guaranteed to backfire – doesn’t sound like a rational decision.
Roy, known for his outspokenness, was never afraid to challenge authority. This gesture could therefore be interpreted as a public declaration: he no longer wishes to be the face of a team that is going nowhere.
Tonight’s loss is just a symptom of the deep problems plaguing the Islanders. With a team that has neither the energy nor the youth to compete, and a general manager who refuses to adapt to the modern demands of the NHL, the organization appears on the verge of collapse.
For Patrick Roy, this situation could well mark the end of his adventure on Long Island. If Lou Lamoriello doesn’t change course, or if Roy doesn’t receive more support, it seems increasingly likely that the two sides will part ways before the end of the season.
As 2025 begins, Patrick Roy finds himself in a precarious situation. His controversial decision during the last game of 2024 will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized by Islanders management and the media.
But for fans, the message is clear: Roy has lost his patience, and he’s willing to do anything to force change.
This gesture, whether interpreted as an act of daring or self-sabotage, symbolizes the fed-up of a legendary coach stuck in an untenable situation.
And if Roy really wanted to send a message, he seems to have succeeded.
The question now is whether Lou Lamoriello will listen, or whether this scene will simply mark the chaotic end of their collaboration.
Patrick Roy, for all his passion and intensity behind the bench, knows better than anyone that the New York Islanders face a desperate reality: they have the worst prospect pool in the entire NHL.
This situation, the result of several years of short-term decisions made by Lou Lamoriello, leaves Roy with a bleak future, without young talent to revive the team or build a long-term vision.
Since 2020, the Islanders have sacrificed draft picks to acquire players like Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov and Bo Horvat.
Although these additions temporarily strengthened the team, they emptied their prospect bank. Between 2020 and 2023, the Islanders did not draft within the top 45 picks, denying the organization the opportunity to add elite young players to their system.
In 2024, they finally selected Cole Eiserman at 20th overall, a promising player, but far from a guaranteed star due to his many shortcomings.
Beyond Eiserman, the names of Danny Nelson, Jesse Pulkkinen, and Marcus Gidlöf generate no enthusiasm. These hopes are far from having the impact necessary to transform a franchise.
When comparing the Islanders to other rebuilding teams, the contrast is stark. Teams like the Montreal Canadiens, the San Jose Sharks or the Anaheim Ducks have rich banks of prospects, ready to fuel their teams with top-tier talent in the years to come.
On Long Island, Patrick Roy must deal with a team where the future…does not exist…
Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri and several other veterans are approaching or beyond thirty, without immediate succession to take their place.
Even current young leaders like Mathew Barzal and Noah Dobson won’t be enough to keep the team competitive without a significant infusion of young talent.
For a competitor like Patrick Roy, this situation is intolerable. He took the job in January 2024 with the hopes of reviving a team in the short term, but he is now faced with the obvious: the Islanders do not have the resources to build a future.
Unlike other coaches in the league, who can look to their young talents to instill energy and a sense of renewal, Roy is stuck with an aging team that is only going backwards.
This not only harms current performance, but also compromises its ability to establish a long-term winning culture.
By removing his goalkeeper in an absurd situation during the last match of 2024, Patrick Roy clearly wanted to express his frustration in the face of this nightmare.
For a coach of his stature, used to challenges where he can impose his vision, this situation represents real hell.
Roy is a man of challenges, but he knows when a mission is impossible. With the worst prospect pool in the NHL and a team unable to compete in a league that values speed and youth, he can only hope for a major change – either in firing Lou Lamoriello or jumping ship .
Tonight…he definitely jumped ship…
