Patrick Roy at the 2016 NHL Draft. (Getty)
Patrick Roy announced he’s leaving his post as the Colorado Avalanche‘s head coach and vice president of hockey operations in a statement Thursday suggesting he isn’t seeing eye-to-eye with the organization. The 50-year-old Hall of Famer has coached in 253 games in Colorado since 2013, with a 130-92-24 record.
Although he states he will “remain forever loyal to the Avalanche,” the departing Roy said in his statement: “the vision of the coach and VP-Hockey Operations needs to be perfectly aligned with that of the organization. He must also have a say in he decisions that impact the team’s performance. These conditions are not currently met.”
Roy logged more than 1,000 games between the pipes for the Montreal Canadiens and the Avalanche, where he won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001. He’s an11-time all-star, three-time Conn Smythe and a three-time Vezina Trophy winner.
He was traded from Montreal to Colorado in 1995 after a allowing nine goals in one night — and head coach Mario Tremblay left him in. Roy told team President Ronald Corey then, “It’s my last game in Montreal.”
His number 33 was retired by Montreal in 2008.
Screenshot of Roy’s statement (Canada Newswire)
Roy’s Avalanche have missed the playoffs the past two years. Earlier this year, the organization said Roy was going to stay on through his contract.
Here’s what you need to know about Roy’s announcement:
1. Roy Was Brought on as Head Coach & VP of Hockey Ops to Oversee ‘Personnel Decisions’
Roy was named head coach and VP of hockey operations in 2013. (Getty)
When Roy was announced as the Avalanche’s sixth head coach in 2013, he was also named its vice president of hockey operations. The latter title meant he would assist Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic “in all player personnel decisions,” a statement read.
“This is an unbelievable day for me,” Roy said in that Avalanche statement. “It’s a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank Stan and Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me. Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am.”
#PatrickRoy stepping down from @Avalanche shocking news. Sounds like he wanted a bigger role in personnel. Never dull in sports.
The role as hockey operations vice president put Roy in a unique position to have a say in personnel matters.
On Thursday, Roy said his vision for the team does not meet that of the organization’s. As the Globe and Mail wrote, Roy’s time overseeing the Avs’ development of young players and trips to the postseason were “ineffective.”
2. Roy Suggests He’s Been Contemplating His Next Move Throughout the Summer
Roy barking out instructions onto the ice. (Getty)
“I have thought long and hard over the course of the summer about how I might improve this team to give it the depth it needs to bring it to a higher level,” Roy said in his statement.
The 50-year-old made the announcement Thursday with one year left on his contract.
Patrick Roy announces he is stepping down as @Avalanche head coach and VP of hockey ops with this statement:
3. It Isn’t Great Timing for Roy to Bail on Colorado
Roy during the 2016 Coors Light Stadium Series game. (Getty)
What?? Patrick Roy is up and quitting the #Avs? Not totally surprised but the timing of this is kind of wonky.
It isn’t October and the NHL season isn’t under way, but it is August and teams are gearing up for training. There are plenty of people who think Roy’s timing is less-than-perfect:
Avs could’ve fired Patrick Roy and hired BRUCE BOUDREAU. Timing is everything. Good grief.
Patrick Roy out in Colorado. Bad timing for coach & team. Should have taken coaching or management job. Not a mix. Doesn’t work in the NHL!
The Avs open up their pre-season on Sept. 27 at Minnesota and the regular season begins Oct. 15 against the Dallas Stars.
4. The Organization Confirmed in April Roy Was Going to Stay on as Coach
Roy in 2008 when his jersey was retired by Montreal. (Getty)
After missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, the organization confirmed it would be keeping Roy on for the final year of his contract. In an interview with the Denver Post, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said Roy would be keeping his job.
“Yes, he will,” Sakic told the Post. “We’re in this thing together.”
“We’re all learning,” Sakic said. “He’s got the passion, he’s a winner, he wants to win. The players know exactly what he wants … You don’t always look at the coach. For us right now, we have to look and see if the players are going to buy into what it takes to win.”
That was in April. On Thursday, Roy said his vision wasn’t “perfectly aligned with that of the organization.” Sports Illustrated points out that Roy and Sakic have had an ongoing communications problem, and “Roy was harshly critical of the young players that made up the team’s core last season and he expressed a desire for more experienced leadership,” Allan Muir wrote at SI.
5. The Avs ‘Appreciate’ Roy’s Work & Will Begin Coaching Search ‘Immediately’
Roy was a goalie for Colorado when he announced his retirement. He released a statement Thursday saying he was resigning his coaching job. (Getty)
Roy’s announcement was out for more than two hours before the Avalanche released a statement. That’s because Sakic is on vacation, according to the Denver Post.
“Patrick informed me of his decision today,” said Avalanche executive vice president/general manager Joe Sakic. “We appreciate all he has done for our organization and wish him the best of luck in the future.”
“We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately,” continued Sakic.
