Roy resigns from Avalanche organization

He became the Avalanche’s head coach and VP of hockey operations in May 2013.

The Hockey Hall of Famer, 133-96-24 in three seasons, says his vision for how to improve the team doesn’t match the organization’s. Colorado made the playoffs in Roy’s first year behind the bench and missed the past two.

The Nashville Predators and the NHL World was rocked earlier today when Patrick Roy sent shockwaves throughout the hockey world as he publicly announced his immediate resignation as the Head Coach and Vice President of Hockey Operations with the Colorado Avalanche, thus effectively ending his three-year tenure with the team. To achieve this, the vision of the coach and V-P of hockey operations needs to be perfectly aligned with that of the organization. Furthermore, it must be able to participate in decisions that impact on the ice. These conditions are not now met.

Roy released a statement Thursday, explaining his decision and thanking the Avalanche organization.

“Though it saddens me, I have put much thought about this decision in recent weeks and have come to be fully comfortable with it”.

The Colorado Avalanche have played under head coach Patrick Roy since the start of the 2013-14 National Hockey League season, when he made the move from coaching major juniors to standing behind the bench in the pros.

Roy was vague on whether it was discord with Sakic that forced him to such a decision, though it was evident from his statement that all was not well in Colorado.

What are some of the issues Roy claims? This probably sounds familiar to Montreal Canadiens fans, the team he walked out on (or stormed out on?) after being left in too long in a blowout defeat against the Red Wings.

“My belief is our mindset needs to change”, Roy said.

“We’re in this thing together”, Sakic said in April.

The Avalanche didn’t shake up their core this offseason, and gave long-term contracts to defenseman Tyson Barrie and forward Nathan MacKinnon. Roy retired after the 2002-03 season.

Colorado ranked 27th in puck possession that season, their success buoyed by an inflated shooting percentage as well as superb goaltending from Varlamov, who produced a.927 save percentage despite facing more than 2,000 shots – by far the most in the league. The Remparts were sold to Quebecor in 2014 and Roy was previously was part owner of the organization.

While we can only speculate on what exactly caused Roy to resign, the timing couldn’t be worse for the Avalanche when you consider that the 2017 season is right around the corner.