The Athletic Hockey Show
Episode: Islanders fire Roy, hire DeBoer in late-season shakeup
Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Max Bultman, Jesse Granger, Mark Lazerus

Episode Overview

This episode unpacks one of the wildest late-season coaching carousel weeks in recent NHL memory, focusing on the New York Islanders' shocking decision to fire Patrick Roy and hire Pete DeBoer with just four games left in the regular season. The hosts debate the reasoning and implications behind the move, compare it to the recent John Tortorella-for-Bruce Cassidy swap in Vegas, and dive into the copycat tendencies of NHL front offices. The conversation then pivots to broader playoff races, team dynamics, goaltending issues, awards chatter (especially surrounding Macklin Celebrini for Hart), and reactions to the Buffalo Sabres finally snapping their 14-year postseason drought.

1. Islanders’ Abrupt Firing of Patrick Roy & Hiring of Pete DeBoer

Key Discussion Points

• Desperation & Timing: Hosts highlight the extraordinary timing—just four games left in the season—labeling it both a “shocker” and potentially necessary given the team’s collapse and the wide-open Eastern race.

  "If the Vegas one was a surprise, this is a shocker." — Mark Lazerus [00:24]

• Strategic Jump on DeBoer:
  The major factor: the Islanders didn't want to miss out on Pete DeBoer before other clubs with pending vacancies could hire him. DeBoer's track record of playoff success (six conference finals in eight years, 19 consecutive seasons as an NHL head coach) made this a calculated risk.

  “Pete DeBoer was going to get a job and the Islanders thought Pete DeBoer is an upgrade over Patrick Roy.” — Max Bultman [01:51]

• Contrast with Vegas’ Tortorella Move:
  The situation is contrasted with Vegas swapping Cassidy for Tortorella, which the hosts feel was a downgrade ("Tortorella hasn't done squat since winning the Stanley Cup 22 years ago." — Mark Lazerus [02:48]), whereas DeBoer is considered a clear upgrade given his playoff bona fides.

• Immediate Needs vs. Long-Term Fit:
  The Islanders hope DeBoer's structure brings rapid improvement, especially defensively, for a playoff push. The presence of a mini-break in their schedule gives them a rare “mini training camp” opportunity, further supporting the timing.

  “Pete DeBoer will help structure them. He's a shot suppression wizard.” — Max Bultman [05:30]

Notable Quotes

• “It’s sheer desperation, right? You lose a few games in a row, you start falling out of the playoffs, and you panic… but I can’t honestly tell you it’s not the right one.”—Mark Lazerus [01:00]
• “He’s not just a great goalie who the name Patrick Roy, like you listen to him talk, he understands coaching. I think he’s a good coach.”—Max Bultman [11:32]

Timestamps

• [00:24] – Overview/Initial reactions to the Islanders firing Roy
• [01:51] – Why this isn’t just a panic move; DeBoer’s credentials
• [04:26] – The Islanders’ defensive woes & Sorokin’s workload

2. Pete DeBoer’s Coaching Footprint: Strengths and Weaknesses

Key Insights

• Known for Defensive Structure & Maximizing Offensive D-men:
  Every team DeBoer has coached has suppressed shots well. Hosts cite his success maximizing players like Brent Burns (San Jose), Shea Theodore (Vegas), Miro Heiskanen (Dallas), and look forward to him doing similarly with Islanders’ young star Matthew Schaefer.

• Issues with Goaltenders:
  DeBoer has a problematic track record with goalie management, from Martin Brodeur to Jake Oettinger and Marc-André Fleury.

  "Pete DeBoer does not know what he's doing with his goaltenders. He doesn't." — Jesse Granger [06:42]

• Short Coaching Shelf Life:
  DeBoer is seen as a win-now coach with a 3-4 year expiration date, not a 10-year solution.

3. Reassessing Patrick Roy’s Head Coaching Future

Key Discussion

• Will Roy Get Another NHL Job?
  The hosts agree—despite being fired, Roy’s improvement in New York and a bias toward recycling experienced coaches make him likely to land another head coach offer soon.

  "The NHL loves hiring previously fired head coaches instead of giving new young assistants jobs. So yes, I'll guess Patrick Roy does get a job next season." — Max Bultman [11:32]

• Retread Debate:
  Discussion on why ‘retread’ coaches continue to get jobs (safer, proven), even if fan/media calls for fresh faces are loudest.

4. The “New Coach Bump” Phenomenon: Vegas’ John Tortorella Experiment

Key Discussion Points

• Torts’ Surprising Soft-Touch Start in Vegas:
  Instead of his notorious fiery style, Tortorella is aiming to relax the team, encourage playing without fear of mistakes, and maintaining humor and humility.

  "He's just cracking jokes about himself the entire time." — Jesse Granger [14:03]

• No System Overhaul:
  Tortorella isn’t implementing new systems, just emphasizing different details (“play faster, play north”), believing there’s no time to overhaul structure with so few games left.

• Initial Results & Skepticism:
  Golden Knights have won three straight under Tortorella, but hosts question the caliber of opponents and wonder how long the “vibe bump” will last.

  "They all seem to really like [Tortorella]... but I wonder if this, this like initial bump ... will wear off by the time they play against a playoff team." — Jesse Granger [16:39]

Notable Quote

• "Players like playing for John Tortorella. ... The dead cat bounce you get when you hire a new coach—it usually lasts a week, week and a half maybe." — Mark Lazerus [19:58]
• "No team in the Pacific is all that scary. There is one player ... Connor McDavid. But Macklin Celebrini..." — Max Bultman [26:08]

Timestamps

• [13:59] – Tortorella’s approach upon joining Vegas
• [16:39] – What changes (or doesn’t) under Torts
• [21:39] – Soft division and Golden Knights’ playoff outlook

5. Playoff Races, Team Ceilings, and the “Desperation” Model

Key Insights

• Islanders Outlook:
  Even with DeBoer, Isles are first-round underdogs—their ceiling depends on Sorokin’s ability to “steal” them a series or two.

  "The Islanders’ ceiling is how many series can Ilya Sorokin steal them single handedly..." — Max Bultman [10:33]

• Eastern Conference Mid-Tier:
  With so many “mid” teams in the East, a coaching gamble + hot goalie might be enough for a run—even if the roster has clear holes.

• Copycat Behaviors:
  Should frantic late-season coaching changes succeed, the trend could take hold league-wide.

6. Macklin Celebrini and the Hart Trophy Race

Key Discussion Points

• Celebrini as MVP Candidate:
  If the Sharks make the playoffs, there’s consensus that Macklin Celebrini’s individual impact makes him not just a candidate but possibly the Hart favorite. The sheer gap between him and his next-best teammate in points is compared to Taylor Hall’s MVP year.

  "If this team is dragged into the playoffs by this 19-year-old phenom, I think he becomes the favorite." — Mark Lazerus [26:46]

• Old vs. New Narratives:
  Despite a common voting bias against players on non-playoff teams, hosts argue he’s a massive exception.

  "He does it when he's surrounded by superstars, too." — Max Bultman [29:31]

• Odds Discussion:
  Celebrini at +2000 for Hart is labeled “insane” by the hosts.

• Voter Psychology:
  Debate around “shiny new toy” syndrome, where voters flock to newer names and storylines, leaving stalwarts (like McKinnon) under-appreciated.

  "We as a voting body seem to be very prone to narrative and the narrative behind Macklin Celebrini..." — Mark Lazerus [30:29] "It's a blend of ... he hasn't been quite that good, but he's still been awesome. But I think ... people got bored talking about how good Nathan McKinnon was." — Max Bultman [31:06]

7. The Buffalo Sabres End Their 14-Year Playoff Drought

Key Moments

• Emotional Release and Fanbase Joy:
  Sabres’ clinching is met with social media catharsis and fun by both the team and fanbase.

  "I loved how the Sabres kind of leaned into it... those [Shawshank Redemption] memes, they were all excited about." — Mark Lazerus [33:42]

• Cautious Optimism:
  Despite the celebration, there’s concern about their recent defensive woes and inconsistent goaltending heading into the playoffs.

  "They're not really getting bailed out the way they used to. Should we be concerned?" — Mark Lazerus [36:42] "Yes, I think that that's a real consideration." — Max Bultman [37:15]

• Goalie Streakiness:
  Alex Lyon’s hot/cold style and UPL’s inexperience add unpredictability to Buffalo’s ceiling.

8. Detroit Red Wings Collapse & the GM Hot Seat

Key Discussion

• Detroit’s Late-Season Collapse:
  Once again the Red Wings falter late, risking the league's longest playoff drought (if Buffalo’s end holds). Steve Yzerman’s job security, after seven years as GM, is discussed—possibly moving “upstairs” if not outright fired.

  "It's the fourth straight year that in March, they've come completely undone... there's clearly something with this group." — Max Bultman [40:31]

• Goaltending as a Factor:
  John Gibson (traded midseason) had masked issues earlier in the year; recent struggles may relate to his heavy workload.

• The Cautionary Tale of “Tear-downs” vs. Running it Back:
  Both Toronto and Detroit serve as opposite warnings: staying the course too long vs. blowing it up can both backfire.

  "It's something for the Toronto's of the world to keep in mind. Tear down rebuilds. They're long shots, man. They're really, really difficult to pull off." — Mark Lazerus [47:35]

  • Toronto’s endless cycle becomes a default warning: “No matter what you're doing, you can look at the Toronto Maple Leafs and go, oh, God, we're screwed.” — Mark Lazerus [49:06]

Timestamps

• [40:08] – Steve Yzerman’s future and Detroit’s psyche
• [44:03] – Discussion on Gibson’s workload and impact

9. Other Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Every year is a contract year. Like, there's no such thing as... we are always at that, that, that, that possibility is always there.” — Jesse Granger, on the perpetual anxiety of Vegas players [22:03]
• “We could do a whole podcast on the Red Wings, but I think we should probably wrap there for today.” — Max Bultman [49:18]

Important Segments Quick Reference

| Topic | Approx. Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|------------------| | Islanders fire Roy, hire DeBoer | 00:24 – 06:25 | | DeBoer's goalie management issues | 06:25 – 09:01 | | Isles’ playoff outlook | 09:01 – 11:02 | | Patrick Roy’s future | 11:02 – 13:30 | | Tortorella’s start in Vegas | 13:59 – 19:58 | | “New coach bump” discussion | 19:58 – 25:17 | | Celebrini for Hart Trophy, Awards talk | 26:08 – 32:35 | | Buffalo clinches playoffs | 33:42 – 37:14 | | Red Wings collapse, GM debate | 40:08 – 49:18 |

Episode Tone

Friendly, informed, debate-centric with a mix of skepticism, admiration, and wry humor about the NHL’s quirks. The hosts manage deep analysis but don't lose sight of the entertainment and human drama at the heart of hockey.

For listeners who missed the episode, this recap gives you a comprehensive look at the late-season drama, coaching consequences, playoff hopes, and award races shaking the NHL as the postseason looms.