NHL futures: Are Islanders worth a bet now that Patrick Roy is HC?
The New York Islanders were thrust into the spotlight on Jan. 20 when they fired head coach Lane Lambert and replaced him with Patrick Roy. So how did the surprising move impact the team's standing with oddsmakers?
The Isles weren't exactly favorites at sportsbooks ahead of the season to win the Stanley Cup, but there is now speculation that the tide could be turning after they won their first game of the new HC's tenure. What are their odds of winning a championship now that Roy will be behind the bench?
As of Jan. 22, the Islanders are listed as 70-1 long shots at DraftKings to win the Stanley Cup. That doesn't seem like much, given that the Isles were listed around 55-1 back in December.
However, New York also lost seven of nine games in January before Lambert was relieved of his coaching duties. If the 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars in Roy's debut is a sign of big change, then those odds are sure to shorten.
Of course, one win doesn't mean the Isles are out of the woods — especially with Roy at the helm. The former goaltender's last tenure as head coach made headlines for all the wrong reasons, and his tenure with the Colorado Avalanche was highlighted by pulling goalies way too early in games and ripping his players for celebrating goals.
All of that being said, Roy has the chance to do things differently with the Islanders. Coaching in a different organization can certainly yield different results, and Roy has the chance to do just that.
With a little over a month left until the trade deadline, the Islanders at listed at 19-10 (+190) at DK to make the playoffs, and that's with them sitting two points out of a wild-card spot. If Roy can get New York to go on a streak, however, there is no doubt those odds will shorten.
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