Islanders add Benoit Desrosiers to Patrick Roy's coaching staff
The Islanders have hired Benoit Desrosiers as an assistant coach on Patrick Roy's staff, president of hockey operations and general manager Lou Lamoriello announced Friday.
Desrosiers, a long-time protege of Roy’s, spent six seasons (2017-23) as an assistant with the Isles’ head coach with the Québec Remparts in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He was in his first year as head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques.
The official announcement comes 11 days after the Islanders denied a report from a Canadian outlet that Desrosiers had already joined the organization.
“Benoit Desrosiers has not been hired by the New York Islanders,” the team’s Jan. 22 denial read. “There are plans for president and general manager Lou Lamoriello to meet with Desroiers in the future.”
Before the NHL All-Star break, the head coach said any decision to hire another assistant to join the current two-man staff of Doug Houda and John MacLean would “be Lou’s decision.”
The Isles fired head coach Lane Lambert after the team's disappointing 19-15-11 start to the season and hired Roy on Jan 20.
New York has gone 1-2-1 under Roy.
