Patrick Roy, long protected by the anger of the fans towards Lou Lamoriello, now finds himself exposed to their frustration.
While much of the attention from Islanders fans was directed at the general manager for his questionable decisions and failure to build a competitive team, Roy enjoyed some immunity.
But this period is well and truly over.
For what ? Because a coach is judged by his results, particularly on special teams. And right now, Patrick Roy is making history… in the worst way possible.
Because the Islanders’ special teams are historically catastrophic
The Islanders’ power play stats are nothing short of disastrous:
Power play efficiency percentage: 10.5%, the fifth worst performance since the NHL began compiling this data (1977-78).
Scarcity of chances: Only 2.44 power play chances per game, on track to become the seventh worst mark in history.
These numbers prove a chronic inability to generate offense, even when the team benefits from an additional player.
The unease is palpable at the UBS Arena, where the fans, exasperated by the ineffectiveness of their team, no longer hesitate to express their discontent by booing loudly at each failure in the power play.
A vicious circle has been created: the loss of confidence and poor execution of the players is simply catastrophic…and sad to watch…
Patrick Roy attempted multiple adjustments to improve the numerical advantage, frequently changing combinations and strategies.
However, these efforts had no effect. As if “the King” had no more solutions. We feel him lost behind the bench. With each power play, the coach collapses before our eyes.
The Islanders are currently going 0-for-25 on the power play, and they haven’t scored a power play goal at home since November 30.
Roy himself seems to be running out of solutions. After the 2-0 loss to the Senators, he admitted:
“I think we have to trust what we do. Sometimes you just have to simplify things, throw to the net, grab the rebounds and score on a deflection. »
But this approach, as basic as it was, did not work. Worse yet, failure to capitalize on these opportunities breaks players’ confidence.
Captain Anders Lee summed up the situation with frustration:
“We want to score on the power play like everyone else. It’s a thorn in our side at the moment. »
Beyond special teams, the Islanders’ season reflects a deeper systemic problem. With a 15-18-7 record, the team sits second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, a ranking unworthy of the expectations placed on a team built to “win now.”
Lou Lamoriello, who emptied the pool of prospects to acquire highly paid veterans, now seems to abandon the strategy of immediate competitiveness.
Lamoriello now wants to abandon his coach by starting a rebuild too little too late?
This abrupt transition to a rebuild leaves Roy in an untenable position, unable to meet expectations with a poorly balanced roster.
Result? The fans turn their anger towards Roy.
With the failure of special teams and the lack of visible progress, Islanders fans are starting to lose patience with Patrick Roy.
On social networks and in discussion forums, frustration is increasingly visible:
“Roy had every excuse in the world with Lamoriello, but special teams are his responsibility. It’s shameful. »
“How can you be so bad on the power play with guys like Barzal and Nelson in the lineup? »
“The honeymoon is over. Roy has to leave. »
These criticisms show that Roy, once seen as a charismatic and passionate coach, is now seen as incapable of getting the best out of his group.
The latent conflict between Patrick Roy and Lou Lamoriello aggravates the situation. While the CEO seems to want to begin a reconstruction, Roy remains attached to the idea of immediate competitiveness.
This fundamental divergence makes their collaboration more and more unbearable.
Lamoriello, by touting Igor Larionov as an ideal coach to work with young people, sends a clear message: Roy no longer fits the future vision of the Islanders.
If results don’t improve quickly, a firing of Roy seems inevitable, especially since Lamoriello could try to protect his own position by sacrificing his coach.
Patrick Roy, once welcomed as a living legend on Long Island, now finds himself under fire.
The resounding failure of the special teams and the inability to live up to fans’ expectations shattered the relationship between Roy and Islanders fans.
While Lamoriello already seems to be preparing for the post-Roy era, the end of this stormy collaboration seems inevitable.
But for the Islanders, the real problem lies in an organization without a clear vision, incapable of building a sustainable future.
For Patrick Roy, this experience on Long Island could well become a chapter to forget in an otherwise legendary career.
As for the Islanders, they must ask themselves: Will a coaching change be enough to solve their problems, or is it Lamoriello’s leadership that needs to be called into question?
To ask the question is to answer it. The CEO must leave. It remains to be seen whether Patrick Roy will be sacrificed before.
Related News :