2023-06-09 17:08:02
Patrick Roy hopes to find a job behind a National Hockey League bench, but he is not holding his breath.
• Read also: Patrick Roy would not be one of the candidates to lead the Rangers
In an interview with NHL.com’s Dave Stubbs, Roy says he won’t be waiting by his phone even though we understand he’d like another chance in the NHL.
In a very lucid statement, he admits that his background is once morest him.
“It’s hard for me to get a job because of how I left Colorado.”
Bad choice
Roy, who just won the Memorial Cup with the Remparts, admits some of his decisions weren’t the wisest.
“I know I made bad choices. I know how I left and everything I did can affect the perspective people have of me today. I have to live with.
“I know I learned from those mistakes. The past is the past, but sometimes you have to live with it. I understand the situation.”
It should be remembered that Roy took the Colorado Avalanche by surprise when he decided to resign as coach and vice-president of hockey operations in August 2016, a few weeks before the resumption of activities.
At the time, he felt his duties did not align with the vision for the organization that was being led by Executive Vice President and General Manager Joe Sakic. He is now president of the club.
AFP
Patrick Roy, when he led the Colorado Avalanche.
too many hats
Roy admits today that he wore too many hats during his time in Colorado, which prevented him from doing his job well.
“I understand now, better than ever, that you can’t be in charge and coach a team at the same time. If you are the coach, you coach. If you’re the general manager, that’s what you do.”
This stroke of blood seems to have followed him since then even though he is apparently a different man today.
The situation is reminiscent of that famous walk behind the bench of the Canadiens, on December 2, 1995, when he went to tell President Ronald Corey that he had just played his last game in Montreal. Head coach Mario Tremblay had finally called him back to the bench following he allowed nine goals to the Detroit Red Wings.
jmtl
The little visit to the president of the Canadiens, Ronald Corey, on the evening of December 2, 1995.
Short-lived
Ultimately, Patrick Roy realized that things can be fleeting in the world of professional hockey.
“I may have taken things for granted when I started out in Colorado,” he told Dave Stubbs. You think the door will always be open, but you realize it doesn’t work that way.
“When the opportunity comes, you better work hard. There are a lot of good coaches and good heads in hockey and everyone is replaceable. We should consider it a privilege when the opportunity arises.”
Roy recounts a discussion he had with Alain Vigneault shortly following leaving Colorado.
“He said to me, you know Patty, there are only 30 (now 32) coaches in the NHL. He was so right. Job opportunities are very limited in the league and having one of these jobs is a privilege. It doesn’t matter what you did as a player.”
DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Before winning the Memorial Cup less than a week ago, Patrick Roy and the Remparts first won the Gilles Courteau Trophy as QMJHL champions.
A chance
When Roy, who is now 57, returned behind the Remparts bench in 2018, he did not do so out of spite. It was a challenge for the competitor that he is.
“It was fun to come back five years ago to prove to myself that I might help the team win. I know I’ve been very lucky to have such a great group of players this season. I often said it when I was a goalkeeper, you are as good as the players in front of you. It’s the same for a coach.
“You can be a good manager, but it’s the players that make you look good and that’s exactly what happened with this team. [qui a gagné la Coupe Memorial]. They were very responsive and focused on winning, I was very lucky.”
Patrick Roy has had great success behind the bench for the Remparts. He has two Memorial Cup triumphs (2006, 2023), a QMJHL championship (2023) and 11 out of 13 seasons above the .500 mark.
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