Patrick Roy; Could The Hall of Fame Goaltender Return To Montreal?
by Matt Smith, Staff Writer/Social Media Specialist, All Habs Hockey Magazine
Surprising news out of the hockey world Thursday as Patrick Roy stepped down as head coach and vice president of hockey operations with the Colorado Avalanche. In three seasons behind the bench, the four-time Stanley Cup champion finished with a record of 130-92-24.
Roy was named the Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s top coach in 2014 after the Avalanche finished with a record of 52-22-8.
Roy issued the following detailing his decision to leave the Avalanche organization.
“For the past three years, I have carried out my duties as Head Coach and Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Colorado Avalanche with energy, passion and determination.
I have thought long and hard over the course of the summer about how I might improve this team to give it the depth it needs and bring it to a higher level. To achieve this, the vision of the coach and VP-Hockey Operations needs to be perfectly aligned with that of the organization. He must also have a say in the decisions that impact the team’s performance. These conditions are not currently met.
Today, I am informing you of my decision to leave the Colorado Avalanche organization. Though it saddens me, I have put much thought about this decision in recent weeks and have come to be fully comfortable with it.
I am grateful to the Colorado Avalanche organization, with which I remain in good terms, for letting me lead this great team. I thank all the players I have had the pleasure of coaching and the fans for their unwavering, unconditional support.
I remain forever loyal to the Avalanche with which I played 478 games, coached another 253, and won two Stanley Cups.”
The Hall of Fame goaltender was selected 51st overall in 1984 by the Montreal Canadiens where he would win two Stanley Cups (1986, 1993). After being traded to the Colorado Avalanche, he would win two more (1996, 2001). He would also win the Vezina Trophy three times in his career (1989, 1990, and 1992) as well as lifting the Conn Smythe Trophy three times in 1986, 1993 and 2001 as playoff MVP.
Outside of the NHL, Roy won the Memorial Cup as the coach of the Quebec Remparts in 2006.
The Avalanche retired Roy’s number 33 jersey in October of 2003, while the Montreal Canadiens retired his jersey in November of 2008. Roy was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006, during his first year of eligibility.
With the incident of 1995 in the past, could the Habs now reach out to Patrick Roy to return to the Canadiens organization, possibly as early as the 2016-2017 season? It’s worth noting that Patrick Roy was not fired, he simply stepped down believing his vision of the Colorado Avalanche and the vision of the team was not aligned.
With that being said, should the Montreal Canadiens reach out to Patrick Roy and offer him a position with the organization, in the front office or behind the bench?
What do you think Habs fans? Would you like to see Patrick Roy return to the Montreal Canadiens? If so, in what capacity?