Islanders fire Lane Lambert, name Patrick Roy head coach

New York Islanders President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Lou Lamoriello announced on Saturday that Lane Lambert had been relieved of his coaching responsibilities and Patrick Roy would take over as head coach.

Roy spent last season has the head coach of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, winning both the league championship and the Memorial Cup. Over the course of 13 seasons with the Remparts, Roy accumulated a record of 524-255-66.

Roy also served as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche for three seasons between 2013-16, finishing with a 130-92-24 record and winning the Jack Adams Award in 2013-14.

The Quebec City, Que. native began his NHL playing career in 1985-86, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup championship as a rookie, as well as winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. He would help the Canadiens win another Stanley Cup title in 1992-93.

After being traded to the Avalanche in 1994-95, he would help the club win their first Stanley Cup championship later that spring. He would help Colorado win it all again in 2000-01, his fourth Stanley Cup championship.

Roy retired from playing in 2003 with a career regular-season record of 55102150131 and a career playoff record of 151-94. His 151 playoff wins are are first all-time and his 551 regular-season wins is third all-time.

Roy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 and his number 33 is retired by both the Canadiens and the Avalanche.

The Islanders are 19-15-11 with 49 points through 45 games, sixth in the Metropolitan Division. They’re 2-6-1 in their last 10 games and have lost four straight.