Patrick Roy’s “Abeso di Dio” jab in Anthony Duclair a sign of worst times for the islanders

The surprise for those who saw Patrick Roy as goalkeeper of the Hall of Fame and in his first days as a coach is that he did not jump out earlier.

Roy, in his first whole season behind the New York Icelanders’ bench, made some blows to the Undercieving players and it was his usual I am quoted on other topics. He had just three weeks in the workplace last February when he dropped this line on Bo Horvat, who had just fought Simon Benoit for a great success on Mat Barzal: “In life, you could be an eagle or an duck. It was an eagle”.

His post -day criticism of Anthony Duclair on Tuesday evening, following the sixth consecutive loss of the islanders to eliminate them substantially from the pursuit of the Est playoffs, except for a miracle, was more pointed than it had been at any time in his 15 months in this work.

“It was strange to God,” said Roy of Duclair when he was asked for him why the time of ice of the islands had decreased in the loss of 4-1 against the lightning of the Bay of Tampa. “It was captivating. He had a bad game. That’s why I didn’t play it a lot. And it’s lucky to be in training. Sorry if I lose it right now, but it’s how I feel.”

Asking to elaborate a little, Roy obliged. “He’s not skating. He’s not competing. He doesn’t move his feet,” he said. “He is not playing what we expect from him.”

The islands cut the rest of the Presser Post -Parita right there. Ironically, this was Roy after the morning skate of the team on Tuesday morning: “It is time to gather and be together as a group. That’s why I’m trying to be positive because I think there is no good that comes out if we start hitting each other.”

Trying is probably the key word there. Lou Lamoriello knew who he was taking on last January – the legendary and exuberant player who was one of the biggest ever in his position. Lamoriello hates everything that becomes viral, especially discord within the team, but Roy is Roy, even now at 58 years old.

A friend of Marty Brodeur broadcast this story from a charity golf event just last summer. Roy identified Brodeur and went to present the only goalkeeper with more career wins to someone else. “This is Marty Brodeur,” Roy said, “the second largest goalkeeper of all time”. Brodeur has just laughed. Here is who Roy is and also as a coach who tries to get the most out of modern NHL players, sometimes the acute language creates some drama.

It is an interesting moment for this. The islanders, now a team of NHL of .500 also for the generous loss standards of the championship, took a step forward towards the change at the commercial deadline, sending the longtime island Brock Nelson to the Avalanche del Colorado for a future choice of the first round and the best perspective Calum Ritchie. Lamoriello could have gone further and facilitate the moves for other veterans, including Ufa Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau; Lamoriello found no option to his liking and decided to retain the rest of his group until the offseason.

Duclair was the only free agent who signed Lamoriello made with limited space for the hood last summer and had the full blessing of Roy. Duclair played for Roy in Quebec of the Qmjhl, so Duclair knew very well what he was getting. He probably could not have foreseen the torn groin, he suffered five games this season; Duclair has lost 29 games and was a shell of himself since he returned just before Christmas, with five goals and three assists in 39 games.

He remained even three years on his agreement. So he, like some other islanders of Undererchieving, is almost certainly around. The same goes for Roy, unless he decides to want to go out: Roy signed a two -year agreement when Lamoriello hired him to replace Lane Lambert last January and Roy received a multi -year extension in the past out of season. Lamoriello, who turns 83 in October, has probably remained around for at least another year, so if there is friction on the post -match comments on Tuesday, nor coach or GM will probably allow him for a long time.

The islanders have a lot of work to do to become relevant once again. With Barzal outside from 1 February and Nelson left, this would never have been a playoff team, even if the pure will and a little luck – luck is what the teams around them played – they kept them in the race. They are almost finished, with eight games to go, and Lamoriello and Roy have a lot of evaluation to be done before the start of the low season.

If to turn on a fire under one of his veterans is the way to go, at the moment it is difficult to discuss with Roy’s methods. The islanders need much more from everyone.

(Photo of Patrick Roy: Brad Penner / Imagn Images)