Profitable the press convention counts for nothing.
However Patrick Roy’s first press convention as head coach of the Islanders was an emphatic victory.
The Corridor-of-Fame goaltender, who final coached within the NHL in 2016, ran the gamut in speaking about what it means for him to teach the Islanders, citing the Dynasty groups that received the franchise 4 championships.
“I couldn’t say no to this chance. I like what I’ve seen on this group as a result of it brings quite a lot of recollections to me,” Roy stated. “Once I walked into the observe facility and seeing all these banners outdoors — after I was an adolescent I used to be watching these video games and watching these guys. And I keep in mind that they had these runs, clearly, these 4 Stanley Cups that led to ’83 after which I began my profession in ’85.
“And I used to be enjoying within the Coliseum then … that was like, man take a look at that lineup. There’s [Denis] Potvin on protection, there’s [Bryan] Trottier, there’s [Mike] Bossy, there’s [Clark] Gillies, Corridor of Famer Billy Smith on the opposite facet. I used to be very intimidated and I’m very proud to be within the footsteps of those guys and hopefully that I might make the distinction as nicely.”
That’s the form of reply that Lane Lambert by no means gave, in a press convention that confirmed the form of consolation coping with a big cohort of media that Lambert by no means had.
Lambert by no means was capable of win over a fan base that, in reality, by no means wished to see Barry Trotz fired to start with.
That got here to a head all through this season when the usArena crowd chanted for his firing.
Roy has the benefit of being one of many sport’s greatest ever goalies, however there have been additionally nods to the followers that his predecessor by no means gave.
“Our fan base is extraordinarily vital,” Roy stated. “I need the followers to come back to our video games and be enthusiastic about our efficiency. I need our followers to stroll on the street carrying that jersey and be so happy with that group. And that’s my goal.”
That received’t matter for a lot if the Islanders can’t flip round a season that began 19-15-11, with the group sixth within the Metropolitan Division and presently out of the playoff image.
However for a fan base that spent a lot of this 12 months pissed off and offended at administration, Saturday felt like a long-awaited victory.