NHL Roundup: Roy fills Avs' coaching vacancy
The Colorado Avalanche confirmed rumors on Thursday that Patrick Roy is the team's next head coach.
The 47-year-old Roy also was named vice president of hockey operations. He replaces Joe Sacco, who was fired on April 28 after Colorado finished last in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for a third straight season. Roy retired as an Avalanche player on May 28, 2003, with a then-NHL record for wins by a goalie with 551.
"This is an unbelievable day for me," Roy said. "It's a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player, I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am."
---New York Rangers center Brad Richards won't be in Thursday's lineup for a must-win Game 4 at Madison Square Garden against the Boston Bruins.
Richards informed reporters that he was told by head coach John Tortorella that he'll be a healthy scratch for a possible elimination game of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series. Richards logged a postseason-low 8:10 in Game 3 on Tuesday. He has one goal and is a minus-3 in the playoffs.
---The Nashville Predators signed 2012 third-round draft pick Brendan Leipsic to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday.
Leipsic, 19, was the leading scorer this season in the Western Hockey League with 120 points (49 goals and 71 assists) for Portland. He led the WHA in goals and was second in assists.
