Islanders Refute Claim About Ex-Coach Roy's Cup Talk

Star player Mathew Barzal denies reports that players grew tired of hearing about Roy's past Stanley Cup wins.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:55pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the rink broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, conceptually representing the complex dynamics between a coach and his team.A cubist interpretation of the tensions between an NHL coach and his players over past accomplishments.NYC Today

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal has strongly denied a report that the team's former head coach Patrick Roy lost the locker room in part because players grew tired of hearing his stories about winning Stanley Cups in the past. Barzal called the claim "untrue" and defended Roy's tenure with the team.

Why it matters

This story provides insight into the dynamics within the Islanders' locker room and the relationship between the players and their former coach. It also highlights the challenges that high-profile coaches can face when trying to establish their authority, especially if they frequently reference their past accomplishments.

The details

According to the report by journalist Frank Seravalli, one of the reasons Roy lost the support of the Islanders' players was that they grew tired of hearing him talk about the Stanley Cups he won as a player with the Colorado Avalanche. However, Barzal has strongly refuted this claim, calling it "couldn't be any more untrue."

  • The report by Frank Seravalli was published on April 9, 2026.

The players

Mathew Barzal

A star forward for the New York Islanders who has pushed back on the report about former head coach Patrick Roy.

Patrick Roy

The former head coach of the New York Islanders who is alleged to have lost the locker room in part due to talking too much about his past Stanley Cup wins.

Frank Seravalli

The journalist who reported that Islanders players grew tired of hearing Roy talk about his past Stanley Cup wins.

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What they’re saying

“That couldn't be any more untrue,”

— Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders forward

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of verifying claims, especially those that involve sensitive locker room dynamics. The Islanders' strong denial of the report suggests that the truth may be more complex than the initial narrative, and that coaches' past accomplishments don't necessarily alienate players if handled properly.