Pierre Turgeon, Thomas Hickey, Adam Graves confident in Patrick Roy as Islanders coach: 'He's got the passion'

Surrounded by reporters, Pierre Turgeon was being asked questions about Patrick Roy, his lifelong friend and the newly appointed coach of the Islanders.

Among the queries was what attributes Roy brings to the job, and a sly grin creased the Hall of Famer’s face.

“There’s that whistle,” Turgeon deadpanned.

One of Roy’s characteristics is his loud, piercing whistle. So loud, in fact, that he doesn’t need an actual whistle.

“He’s [going] to do something good,” Turgeon said of Roy before the Rangers’ 6-4 win over the Islanders in the 2024 Alumni Classic charity game at Northwell Health Ice Center on Sunday. “He’s got the passion. He [has that] passion for coaching in the NHL and junior, and he [proved] that he’s able to do it. He’s coming here and I’m glad to see he’s the coach of the New York Islanders.”

Although the Islanders are 1-2-1 since Roy took over, Turgeon, MSG Networks analyst Thomas Hickey and Rangers legend Adam Graves expressed confidence that the Hall of Fame goaltender will succeed after Lane Lambert did not.

Why?

“He’s got the passion,” Turgeon said. “He’s going to spend the hours he needs to spend at the rink to make sure everything is going well.”

With the caveat that four games is a small sample size, the most obvious change is that the Islanders were counterpunching under Lambert whereas with Roy, they are aggressive.

According to NaturalStatTrick.com, since Roy became the coach, the Islanders are 14th in Corsi For percentage (52.59), ninth in Fenwick For (54.55), fourth in Goals For (58.62) and 12th in Scoring Chances For (52.73).

For the entirety of the season, the Islanders rank 27th in Corsi For percentage (46.18), 26th in Fenwick For (47.3), 24th in Goals For (48.42) and 25th in Scoring Chances For (46.82).

“It looks like it’s making a difference,” Hickey said. “Because that determination and the speed that they’re playing with, it’s leading to changing the metrics that they [had] earlier on in the season, [which weren’t] very good.”

And while it remains to be seen if and when the improvement in analytic statistics will lead to tangible results, what is plainly visible is that the players seem to be rejuvenated by Roy.

“You’re going to have guys who are excited because maybe it’s a new lease on their careers or an opportunity that they think they should be getting,” Hickey said. “So you’re [going] to have excitement in the group.”

All of which prompted a question: Does Roy — a four-time Stanley Cup winner, three-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner and three-time Vezina Trophy winner — come into the job with an increased level of credibility with the players because of his accomplishments with the Canadiens and Avalanche?

“I will say one thing about Patty Roy: Playing against him, getting to know him a little bit, I have nothing but respect for him,” Graves said. “One of the all-time greats. Competitive. He’s obviously a champion both as a player and a coach; won the Memorial Cup [with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts in 2023]. Someone I have a great deal of respect for.”

Added Turgeon: “What he’s done in the past, I don’t think it matters. He’s looking [at] what he’s able to do with the team. That’s how he is.”  

Notes & quotes: Michael J. Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health, estimated the game raised “in excess of $50,000” for the Northwell Health Foundation, which will use the funds for the medical provider’s mental health services for children and adolescents.