<p>While some things will stay the same, others will be different on Long Island next season.</p>



<p>During his introductory press conference on Thursday, new <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">New York Islanders</a><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-york-islanders-hire-mathie-darch-new-general-manager-lou-lamoriello-shanahan"> general manager Mathieu Darche</a> confirmed that Patrick Roy will return as head coach for the 2025-26 season.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mathieu Darche announced today that Patrick Roy will remain as Head Coach of the New York Islanders. <a href="https://t.co/cKWYkg8ShH">pic.twitter.com/cKWYkg8ShH</a></p>— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYIslanders/status/1928105867494256989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>However, while the Hall of Fame goaltender will remain behind the bench, he will have a new cast around him. It was also announced that assistant coaches John MacLean and Tommy Albelin were not returning next season.</p>



<p>Roy had finished up his first full season behind the bench as head coach with the Isles. He joined the team in the interim in January of the 2023-24 season. The Quebec City native guided the team to a third-place finish in the Metropolitan Division, though they were quickly trounced in the opening round against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/carolina-hurricanes/line-combinations">Carolina Hurricanes</a>.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="157"></div>



<p>Unfortunately, the Islanders were unable to replicate that success. While they finished with a .500 record (thanks to 12 losses beyond regulation), the team was unable to keep up in the Wild Card race. The Isles finished sixth in the Metro, missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.</p>



<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In addition to the coaching changes in New York, it was also announced that the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, would&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NYIslanders/status/1928107357898256792" target="_blank">have a new coaching staff</a>&nbsp;for the 2025-26 season</span>. This comes after the team posted a 15-50-7 record, finishing with the worst record in the AHL. Their four wins at home are the fewest in the league’s history.</p>



<p>Roy is one of the few notable members returning to the hockey operations department. The opportunity for Darche to come to Long Island came after the Isles parted ways with longtime president and GM Lou Lamoriello shortly after the season ended. With a new support staff around him, the Islanders are hoping for a much more positive outcome next year.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="171"></div>


New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy