Stu Cowan: Patrick Roy deserves one other shot as an NHL head coach

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If Patrick Roy doesn’t land an NHL head-coaching job for subsequent season, he most likely by no means will once more.

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As head coach and common supervisor of the Quebec Remparts, the 57-year-old Corridor of Famer who gained 4 Stanley Cups throughout his 19 seasons as an NHL goalie — together with 1986 and 1993 with the Canadiens — gained the QMJHL regular-season championship, the Gilles Courteau Trophy as playoff champions and on Sunday added the Memorial Cup as CHL champions, beating the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-0 within the ultimate in Kamloops, B.C.

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Earlier than the beginning of this season, Roy stated this could be his final as head coach of the Remparts. Roy introduced in former NHL participant Simon Gagné as an assistant coach to mentor him to take over behind the Remparts bench subsequent season.

Now that the Remparts season is completed, the hypothesis has heated up about the place Roy would possibly go subsequent.

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It was two years in the past close to the tip of the NHL common season that Neil Glasberg — the founder and president of PBI Sports activities & Leisure, which represents coaches and GMs within the NHL, NFL and NBA — despatched out a tweet asserting he was representing Roy regarding “NHL teaching and administration alternatives.“

Roy didn’t get an NHL job that summer season and after Marc Bergevin was fired as GM of the Canadiens in late November that yr Roy expressed his want to fill that place.

“Since 1993, the group has been operating in circles,” Roy instructed Le Journal de Québec on the time. “What have they got to lose by giving me the prospect to see what I can do with this membership? On the similar time, I perceive the state of affairs. The membership is owned by Geoff Molson and he’s the one pulling the strings. It’s his group and, on the finish of the day, I won’t be the man for him. I settle for that.”

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The Canadiens administration and training state of affairs is now locked up with Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis. However the Calgary Flames and New York Rangers are in search of new head coaches. There’s additionally the potential of a training change with the Ottawa Senators after a brand new possession group is lastly authorized and the way forward for Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe stays unsure below new GM Brad Treliving.

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Larry Brooks of the New York Submit wrote a column final week below the headline “Patrick Roy is precisely what the Rangers want“.

“The Rangers are in want of a coach who will instill construction to the group whereas with the ability to maximize the group’s offensive creativity,” Brooks wrote. “Roy has introduced construction to the Remparts.”

Roy definitely did. The Remparts allowed the fewest targets within the CHL throughout the common season (2.35 per sport) and had a plus-126 objective differential whereas posting a 53-12-3 report.

“The Rangers are in want of a coach who will make it his enterprise to get probably the most out of their youngsters, and that begins with Alexis Lafrenière,” Brooks wrote. “Roy has been teaching youngsters for the previous 5 years and 13 years general in two separate stints with Quebec by which he has additionally been GM.”

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Brooks added that the “button-down, business-like Rangers are additionally in want of a coach with motivational abilities and keenness.”

Roy undoubtedly has all these issues, however he gained’t be the Rangers’ subsequent head coach with the Submit reporting Monday that he’s not thought-about a candidate and gained’t even get an interview for the job.

Roy is a confirmed winner as a participant and a coach together with his second Memorial Cup championship and he additionally gained the Jack Adams Award because the NHL’s prime coach in 2014 after main the Colorado Avalanche to a 52-22-8 report. However Roy has a mood and doesn’t at all times play properly with others, which led to him leaving the Avalanche unexpectedly after they missed the playoffs for the second straight season in 2015-16 in an influence battle with GM and former Avalanche teammate Joe Sakic. Roy’s substitute, Jared Bednar, led the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022.

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These issues work in opposition to Roy in the case of getting again behind an NHL bench.

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However individuals can change — even Roy — and it’s a must to assume being out of the NHL for six seasons now has taught him that he wants to do this.

When Roy gained his first Stanley Cup with the Canadiens at age 20 he couldn’t develop a playoff beard. Now he appears a bit like Santa Claus together with his bushy, white beard. He additionally seemed like a proud father whereas watching his Remparts gamers have a good time the Memorial Cup victory.

“I simply need them to take pleasure in it as a result of that’s their second,” Roy instructed reporters in Kelowna. “These guys purchased into no matter we did and I’m so happy with them. … It’s enjoyable to be a part of this journey and see them so comfortable.”

I’d be comfortable to see Roy get one other shot teaching within the NHL and I believe he deserves it.

Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if any group is prepared to take the chance.

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