Patrick Roy’s Interview with Maple Leafs “Was Really Good”, Says Insider

“The word on the street is that Roy’s interview was really good.” These were comments made by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman after it was learned that the Toronto Maple Leafs had reached out to the New York Islanders to request permission to interview former head coach Patrick Roy.

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“I think he’s legit,” added Friedman.

Sources say Roy and Peter Laviolette are a part of this week’s stage of the interview process. It’s not clear if Laviolette has been interviewed yet, and if so, how it went. Friedman also heard the Maple Leafs interviewed Jeff Halpern, but believes Halpern’s been told he won’t go on to the next round.

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While he’s a character and a somewhat polarizing figure as a coach, Roy has experience in the NHL, both with the Colorado Avalanche (2013–2016) and New York Islanders (2024–2026).

Roy came into coaching with enormous credibility — a Hall of Fame goaltender, four Stanley Cups as a player, and over a decade of junior success behind him with the Quebec Remparts. He served as head coach of the Avalanche for three seasons, finishing with a record of 130-92-24. He won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14, lifting Colorado to 112 points and a 52-22-8 record.

Then the wheels came off.

The team missed the playoffs in each of the next two seasons, and the relationship between Roy and the organization deteriorated. He resigned in 2016, citing differences in organizational philosophy and a lack of input on personnel decisions.

After winning the Memorial Cup with Quebec in 2023, Roy was hired by the Islanders on January 20, 2024, replacing the fired Lane Lambert. Though year one was solid, (New York lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round), year two was a disappointment — a 35-35-12 finish that fell well short of the postseason.

Roy was fired on April 5, 2026, with four games left in the season, replaced by Peter DeBoer. The reason wasn’t because the Islanders thought Roy was a bad coach, but because they felt if they didn’t hire DeBoer, he’d get scooped up by someone else. He still had two seasons remaining on his contract.

Roy Could Bring an Interesting Dynamic to the Maple Leafs

Roy’s NHL coaching career totals out to 227-170-46 across two stops — a winning record, one Jack Adams trophy, and one playoff appearance. He was a brilliant first-year coach in Colorado and a solid fit in New York, but never quite reached that next level. He’s intense and strong-willed, which isn’t a shocker given he was a legendary competitor.

One has to wonder if Maple Leafs management are looking for that kind of fire to be brought to the team.

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