The New York Islanders have fired coach Patrick Roy with four games remaining in the season, according to first-year GM Mathieu Darche. The decision comes as the team has lost four straight games and seven of their last ten, jeopardizing their playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Peter DeBoer will take over as the new head coach full-time.

Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender, was hired in January 2024 and led the team to the playoffs in his first season, where they lost in the first round to Carolina. The team has regressed since that initial success. His dismissal marks the second NHL coaching change in eight days, following Bruce Cassidy's firing by the Vegas Golden Knights.

DeBoer arrives fresh from serving as an assistant on Canada's Olympic staff and brings extensive playoff pedigree. The 57-year-old has guided two teams to the Stanley Cup Final and most recently coached the Dallas Stars to three consecutive Western Conference finals. The timing coincides with the emergence of rookie Matthew Schaefer, the current front-runner for Rookie of the Year, and other top prospects.