Tensions between Patrick Roy and New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello have reached a new high.
As the Islanders navigate a disastrous season, Lamoriello gave an interview to Sport-Express in Russia, where he praised Igor Larionov, nicknamed “the Professor”, suggesting that he would be ready to become a head coach in the NHL .
“I think he could become a head coach in the NHL right now if he wanted to. We don’t call him the Professor for nothing.
He is very intelligent, has exceptional hockey knowledge and enjoys working with young people. »
These words, made while Patrick Roy was already in the hot seat, look more like an act of sabotage than a simple declaration of admiration.
For many, this public outing is a roundabout way for Lamoriello to signal that he is seriously considering replacing Roy before the end of the season or this summer.
Since his arrival in January 2024, Patrick Roy has never had free rein with the Islanders.
Lou Lamoriello, known for his authoritarian approach, has often been accused of dictating decisions behind the bench, limiting Roy’s ability to lead as he sees fit.
The conflict between the two men became public on several occasions:
Roy half-heartedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of the team, indirectly calling the roster “aging and lacking depth.”
Lamoriello, for his part, has never hidden his strict management and his lack of patience for coaches who do not respect his vision.
These tensions flared behind the scenes, with persistent rumors of disagreements over player usage and general strategies.
Lamoriello’s evocation of Igor Larionov is anything but trivial. The legendary former player, nicknamed “the Professor”, built a solid reputation as a coach in the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
Known for his innovative approach and ability to develop young talent, Larionov seems to be a perfect fit for what Lamoriello is looking for for the Islanders.
At Torpedo, Larionov transformed a modest team into a competitive roster, while developing players like Bogdan Konyushkov, a Canadiens prospect, and Anton Silayev, a Devils first-round pick.
His playing philosophy focused on speed, intelligence and creativity stands in stark contrast to the rigid, defensive style often associated with Lamoriello’s teams.
For Lamoriello, Larionov perhaps embodies the opportunity for a fresh start, at a time when Patrick Roy is struggling to get the most out of his aging and limited roster.
Rumors of dismissal around Patrick Roy are multiplying, and Lamoriello’s comments about Larionov only reinforce this impression.
For all his charisma and intensity, Roy is stuck with a team that doesn’t have the energy or depth to compete in an increasingly fast-paced and young league.
The Islanders’ record this season is overwhelming.
Visible tensions on the bench and in the media, with an increasingly frustrated coach and a general manager who leaves him no room for maneuver.
For many, it’s no longer a question of if Roy will be fired, but when. Lamoriello, by extolling the merits of Larionov, appears to be setting the stage for imminent change.
On social networks, Islanders fans were quick to react. While some support Patrick Roy, emphasizing that he does not have the necessary tools to succeed, others believe that his recent behavior is unacceptable and that change is necessary.
“Roy never had a real chance here. Lamoriello put him in an impossible situation”writes an Internet user.
“Larionov?” Why not. We need a coach capable of developing young people, because Roy hasn’t done anything good with this team.”says another.
The media are wondering about the timing of this declaration. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski called Lamoriello’s comments “a clear disrespect to his current coach,” while Chris Botta claimed:
“If Lamoriello wants Larionov, he should at least have the decency to thank Roy before praising his replacement. »
At this point, it seems increasingly likely that Patrick Roy and Lou Lamoriello are at loggerheads.
The 82-year-old CEO, true to his reputation, could well press the red button to try to save an already disastrous campaign.
If Igor Larionov agrees to make the jump to the NHL, he would represent a bold choice for an organization in crisis.
But will this be enough to solve the Islanders’ structural problems? Nothing is less certain.
Patrick Roy, living hockey legend, finds himself in an almost untenable situation. Stuck between Lou Lamoriello’s unrealistic expectations and the limitations of an aging team, he seems destined to become the scapegoat for a dysfunctional organization.
As for Lamoriello, by praising the merits of Igor Larionov, he sends a clear message: change is coming.
But for the Islanders, this change will have to go beyond the coaching position if they want to hope to find their way back to success.
In the meantime, Patrick Roy seems condemned to experience a bitter end to his journey on Long Island. Unless it’s him who ends up defeating Lamoriello.
If the Islanders GM is heaping praise on Igor Larionov, it is not only to consider a successor to Patrick Roy.
It is also, for many observers, an attempt to distract the attention of the Islanders’ owners, who may well decide to turn their critical eye towards the general manager himself.
Lamoriello, 82, is also in hot water, and he knows it. The decisions he made over the years left the Islanders in trouble: an aging team with no depth and one of the worst prospects in the NHL.
If the franchise is in crisis today, Roy is not the only one to blame. Lamoriello is therefore perhaps playing his last card by directing the blame towards his coach.
Firing Roy could be seen as a desperate attempt to placate critics, but also as a way to delay the inevitable deadline for Lamoriello himself.
By praising Larionov, Lamoriello suggests that he already has a plan in mind to revive the team. But this plan seems thin in the face of the Islanders’ deep structural problems.
Meanwhile, Patrick Roy isn’t just a coach frustrated by his lack of autonomy. He dreams of the position of general manager, and this is no secret.
Roy, who has already expressed his desire to actively participate in building a team, does not hide his ambition to become GM, whether on Long Island or elsewhere.
If Lamoriello hopes to put out the fire by firing Roy, he could instead fan the flames. Rumors of Roy ready to succeed Lamoriello are gaining momentum, and fans, fed up with the team’s collapse, could well get behind this idea.
After all, Roy, despite his current limitations as a coach, is a legendary figure who could offer a different vision and new energy to an organization in decline.
What is happening on Long Island goes beyond the simple conflict between Roy and Lamoriello. It is a power struggle within an organization where roles have become blurred and responsibilities nebulous.
If Roy ends up being fired, it won’t solve the Islanders’ fundamental problems. The team remains built around veterans who can no longer keep up with the pace of an increasingly fast-paced league, and the lack of succession in the system leaves little hope for the future.
For Lamoriello, sacrificing Roy might just be a way to buy time. But for Islanders owners, patience has limits, and the 82-year-old GM could be next in line.
The drama currently playing out on Long Island is the symbol of an organization in free fall.
Patrick Roy, despite his efforts, is becoming the scapegoat for a much larger problem. Lou Lamoriello, once an architect of victory, is now seen as a symbol of the past, unable to adapt to the modern demands of the NHL.
If Roy is fired, it will be a strong gesture, but insufficient. The Islanders will have to look at themselves and recognize that real change must start at the top.
And this summit is Lamoriello.
Roy continues to dream of a future where he is not only a coach, but also a builder. Maybe on Long Island, maybe somewhere else.
What is clear and clear is that if the owners do not react quickly, it is not only Patrick Roy who will jump ship.
The entire credibility of the Islanders will sink with him.
