Should Darche Fire Patrick Roy? Absolutely
His Judgement Cometh and that Right Soon...................
We are still waiting for Roy’s comments he promised time and again as soon as the season ended in his press conferences. Frankly, we don’t need to hear from him ever again.
Mathiew Darche should pick his own head coach, who should pick his staff, and tell Roy he’s free to work elsewhere with about 3-4 years left on his contract which is likely the only reason he was not fired with Lamoriello. Running back a coach who had far too much praise for a team that lost often regardless of shots taken or how they could beat top teams (Florida, Winnipeg) then give up seven goals to hapless Nashville, and lose to a pathetic Ranger team four times, the last game with a rest advantage, 9-2 despite 46 shots, and Hogberg in goal.
Despite the very weak forward group, you don’t make Kyle Palmieri, J.G Pageau your version of Bossy/Trottier who were his go to guys who are slow, poor on boards, bad in transition, and don’t defend passing lanes. Pageau’s shot is soft as butter, and wears out the opposing goalies logo. They signed Tsyplakov, and despite his turnovers, you win lose with players who have the most talent/potential. Horvat, Barzal (who can’t be a winger) Nelson gave you three scoring centers. Holmstrom you play on the top two lines which were not deep. Roy gets no pass for Wahlstrom, Engvall, Fasching or special teams that were historically bad, even if it was Lamoriello’s decisions to acquire or re-sign them. MacLean, Martin, Gatcomb, and Cizikas besides hugging goalies after games were worthless. Lee had his best season in years but was streaky.
Pelech, Pullock struggled under Roy in their prime. Dobson’s mistakes which were there under Lambert became much worse under Roy. Dobson was not in the lineup last last season when they qualified (with Varlamov playing great) but if it’s a choice between Roy vs Dobson, you keep Dobson who is a franchise player. Can you blame Roy for the weak forward group after another excellent season by Sorokin who was alone after Varlamov got hurt, you can blame the strategy on Roy with Lamoriello’s staff.
Yes, Roy is responible, he’s the head coach, even if you can argue he did not have the talent. New York has a new voice in the front office, Roy look like he aged ten years, he came in screaming, and that stopped very early in.
Qualifing last season, and this season was not the norm, Weight’s 94 point team failed in 2016-17. 2021-22 is the real norm where NY was 9th seed, close to twenty points out which decided Barry Trotz fate in New York.
Darche will have his first test, and that is to tell Patrick Roy, he wants to pick his own head coach, and to tell Collins pay Roy to stay home.