Islanders Hire Peter DeBoer as New Head Coach

Veteran NHL coach takes over for Patrick Roy with playoffs on the line

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:34pm

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The New York Islanders have fired head coach Patrick Roy and hired Peter DeBoer as his replacement with just four games left before the playoffs. DeBoer, who previously served as head coach of the Dallas Stars, brings extensive NHL experience and a track record of leading teams to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Why it matters

The Islanders are currently in a playoff position but have struggled since the Olympic break, going just 10-10-0 in their last 20 games. The coaching change is an attempt to get the team back on track and make a deep playoff run.

The details

The Islanders announced the move on April 5, relieving Roy of his duties after he compiled a 97-78-22 record over the past two-plus seasons. DeBoer, who has a career NHL coaching record of 662-447-152, previously led the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks to the Stanley Cup Finals. He most recently served as head coach of the Dallas Stars in the 2024-25 season.

  • The Islanders made the coaching change on April 5, 2026.
  • Roy had two years remaining on his contract with the Islanders.

The players

Peter DeBoer

An experienced NHL head coach who has led teams to the Stanley Cup Finals with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. He most recently served as head coach of the Dallas Stars.

Patrick Roy

The former Islanders head coach who was relieved of his duties with just four games remaining before the playoffs. He had a 97-78-22 record over the past two-plus seasons with the Islanders.

Mathieu Darche

The Islanders' General Manager and Executive Vice President who announced the coaching change.

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What they’re saying

“We must make the necessary changes to give our team the best chance to succeed in the playoffs. Peter DeBoer is an experienced coach who has led teams deep into the postseason, and we believe he is the right person to guide us through the final stretch and into the playoffs.”

— Mathieu Darche, Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President

What’s next

The Islanders will play their next game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 9, with DeBoer making his debut as the new head coach.

The takeaway

This coaching change represents the Islanders' attempt to get their team back on track and make a deep playoff run. DeBoer's extensive NHL experience and track record of leading teams to the Stanley Cup Finals make him an intriguing hire, but he will need to quickly get the Islanders playing at a high level to secure a playoff spot.