Nov 22, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche speaks with fans at a pre-game event prior to the game against the St. Louis Blues at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
EAST MEADOW, NY — New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche is trying to look ahead around an immediate and suddenly dire playoff situation with four games left in the regular season. That’s why Pete DeBoer is here.
The first-year GM made the call on Easter Sunday to relieve head coach Patrick Roy of his duties and bring in the former Panthers, Devils, Sharks, Golden Knights, and Stars bench boss in an attempt to save this season and build some sustainability moving forward.
The Islanders are on a four-game losing streak, no longer controlling their own destiny, sitting in fourth in the Metropolitan Division, and one point behind two teams for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot.
“It’s never one game, it’s never one moment,” Darche said Monday of his decision to fire Roy. “You’re evaluating the team throughout the year. I just felt the last little bit here, we weren’t as sharp, but we didn’t get away with as much as we did before. Because, let’s face it, we got away with some stuff during the year where our goaltender has been outstanding. I just felt at this moment and the last little bit here that we were sliding a bit.”
The hope is that DeBoer provides lightning in a bottle. He led the Devils and Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season with each team. In his first year with the Golden Knights and Stars, he went to the Western Conference final.
In his last two stops with Vegas and Dallas, he was in the conference final in five of the last six years, and he has never lost a Game 7. The Stanley Cup, though, has eluded him.
“Guys like Pete DeBoer don’t stay on the market very long,” Darche said. “And his pedigree, he went to five of the last six conference finals. He’s had success everywhere he’s been. He’s a very structured coach… It’s like grabbing the No. 1 free agent on the market. Pete’s an outstanding coach… His success speaks for itself.”
Darche, who received permission from the Stars to contact the 57-year-old, said talks with DeBoer intensified late Saturday night and into Sunday morning before the move to relieve Roy of his duties.
The Islanders do not play again until Thursday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving DeBoer three practice days in total to acclimate with his new team in as tight a crunch as possible.
“I expect the players to react like, hey, let’s look at the coach we brought in,” Darche said. “He believes in our roster. That’s the way I think the players will approach it.”
For more on Pete DeBoer and the Islanders, visit AMNY.com
