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Islander Fire Roy: Love Him or Hate Him, the Guy Never Bores You

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Apr 5, 2026 2:13 PM ET

After the New York Islanders’ four-game losing streak, coach Patrick Roy was fired. Is anyone surprised? The man is polarizing, and right now that’s back into sharp focus.

Roy coached exactly like he played, with his heart right out there on his sleeve. He’s intense, emotional, and not afraid to say what he thinks. Some players and fans love that fire. Others find it exhausting and outdated in today’s NHL.

Roy Calls Out Players – Both His Own and Others

Remember last April when he called out Anthony Duclair after a bad game? Roy went on record saying Duclair was “god-awful” and “lucky to be in the lineup.” Duclair took a leave of absence. Later, Roy actually drove to Duclair’s home in Montreal to apologize in person. Duclair said the conversation went well and they cleared the air, but that moment stuck with many people.

Then there was the November night when Mikko Rantanen got ejected for a big hit on Islanders defenceman Alexander Romanov. Ice-level mics caught Roy yelling at Rantanen as he left the ice: “You’re not gonna f—ing finish that game!” Classic Roy, defending his players with everything he had.

Roy’s Lineup Decisions Are Sometimes “Irregular”

He’s also known for shaking up lineups constantly, even when the team is healthy, and for some head-scratching in-game decisions. Some see creativity and passion; others see chaos.

The truth is that Roy has always been this way. As a player, he walked out on Montreal in 1995. As a coach in Colorado, he resigned suddenly in 2016. The drama follows him, but so does the competitiveness.

Right now, the Islanders are struggling, and the losing streak has made management wonder if Roy’s fiery style is still the right fit. They decided it wasn’t. For sure, Roy brings accountability and emotion that some teams desperately need. But in a league that’s become more player-friendly, that same intensity can wear thin fast.

Patrick Roy Is Never Boring

Whether you love him or can’t stand him, one thing is certain — Patrick Roy never leaves you bored. He is who he is, and the Islanders decided that wasn’t what they wanted.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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