Colorado Avalanche
In Final Season, Patrick Roy Leads Remparts to QMJHL Championship; NHL Next?
Patrick Roy left the Colorado Avalanche in perhaps the worst possible way back in 2016, quitting in the middle of August, forcing the team to scramble to replace him.
In retrospect, it was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to the Avalanche. While Roy is a legend in net, he was not the best coach, and he wanted to be in control of the roster as well. His roster decisions were questionable at best, so it was time to move on. Obviously, Colorado recovered.
Roy, meanwhile, returned to coaching his Quebec Remparts in 2018. After a rough first few years back, they were very good last year. This season, they were even better, finishing first in the QMJHL in wins and points.
On Sunday, all of that paid off. They came from behind, scoring two late goals to defeat the Halifax Mooseheads by a score of 5-4. With the win, they took home the QMJHL championship in six games.
ON ATTENDAIT CE MOMENT DEPUIS 1976! ☝️#DeQuébecPourQuébec pic.twitter.com/50U7DkU0ki
— XYZ – Remparts de Québec (@quebec_remparts) May 21, 2023
NOUS SOMMES CHAMPIONS! 🏆#DeQuébecPourQuébec pic.twitter.com/jAQ1cmaInY
— XYZ – Remparts de Québec (@quebec_remparts) May 21, 2023
Before the season started, Patrick Roy had decided this was his last season coaching the Remparts. He brought former NHL winger Simon Gagne into the organization last summer to mentor him, with Gagne taking over behind the bench for the 2023-24 season. According to TSN, Roy said he will listen if some teams come calling.
“If I receive calls, I will listen,” he replied. “You know like me, rumours are rumours…I’d rather focus on what I can control, and what I can control is how we prepare our team for Friday night against Halifax.”
That may have already started. The New York Rangers reportedly may be interested, and there’s a few other openings around the league where he may get an interview.
**Late Night 🌙 Nugget**
As the @NHL Coaching Carousel 🎠 is starting to spin ; Patrick Roy is generating interest from several clubs as his @quebec_remparts are 1 W away from @QMJHL Championship & making @CHLHockey Memorial Cup.@espn @NHLNetwork @DKSportsbook #HockeyTwitter— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) May 18, 2023
If he is interested in returning to the NHL, he’s going out on top in the QMJHL. Patrick Roy and his Remparts will represent the QMJHL in the Memorial Cup, which starts next week in Kamploops. Perhaps soon after, he’ll be back with an NHL team.
It won’t be the Avalanche, but it will be a lot more fun to watch from an outsiders perspective, that’s for sure.
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He was a great goalie and helped the Avs win a SC but I couldn’t care less if he returns to the NHL–he left the Avalanche in the lurch just weeks before the season started. Yes, his leaving gave Bednar an opportunity and I’ll take Bednar over Roy all the time but Patrick showed his true colors when he left in a hurry without regard to his team. He’s a very selfish & self centered man prone to impulsive behavior. I have to wonder how his rash decision affected his friendship with Sakic. I know it didn’t help him gain… Read more »
I, for one, will enjoy watching him crash whatever team he coaches into the side of mountain.
I have the popcorn ready to go. Even been teasing a friend who is a Leafs fan to watch for them to be linked to Roy in some fashion. Needless to say, that sent him into orbit less than 6 hours after the news about Dubas broke. good times.
Roy just joins the list of former Avs playing or working for other teams. I don’t root for them one way or another. It is a game. Roy did tarnish his reputation with his personal and coaching issues and for that may only endear Av fans with his tenure as a cup winning goalie.