The New York Islanders have dismissed head coach Patrick Roy and appointed Peter DeBoer as his replacement. DeBoer joins from the Dallas Stars, where he achieved a strong record over three seasons. The move affects Islanders players including Adam Boqvist, Simon Holmström, Pierre Engvall and Emil Heineman.
The New York Islanders announced the coaching change on April 5, parting ways with Patrick Roy as head coach. Peter DeBoer, 57, steps in immediately to lead the team for the remainder of the season and beyond. Islanders officials confirmed the switch, marking a significant shift in the club's leadership amid their ongoing campaign. DeBoer arrives after serving as head coach of the Dallas Stars from the 2022-23 season through 2024-25. There, he compiled a record of 149 wins, 68 losses and 29 overtime losses, achieving his highest career win percentage of 66.5 percent. He guided the Stars to the Western Conference finals in each of those three seasons. Throughout his 17-season NHL coaching career, DeBoer has directed 1,261 regular-season games, posting 662 wins, 447 losses and 152 overtime losses. He previously led the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers. DeBoer ranks 18th in NHL history for coaching wins and 22nd for games coached, having taken four teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs, including finals appearances with the Devils in 2012 and the Sharks in 2016. In playoff action, DeBoer holds a 97-82 record over 179 games, placing fifth in postseason wins and seventh in games coached. He boasts a perfect 9-0 mark in Game 7s, the best in league history.