Patrick Roy resigning as Avalanche coach, hockey ops VP
Patrick Roy has resigned as the head coach and vice president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche.
Roy, who won two Stanley Cups with the team as a player, spent three seasons behind the bench, compiling a 130-92-24 record. He was named the Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s best bench boss in 2014 after guiding the Avs to a 52-22-8 mark.
He issued the following statement on Thursday:
"For the past three years, I have carried out my duties as Head Coach and Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Colorado Avalanche with energy, passion and determination.
I have thought long and hard over the course of the summer about how I might improve this team to give it the depth it needs and bring it to a higher level. To achieve this, the vision of the coach and VP-Hockey Operations needs to be perfectly aligned with that of the organization. He must also have a say in the decisions that impact the team's performance. These conditions are not currently met.
Today, I am informing you of my decision to leave the Colorado 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.
I am grateful to the Colorado Avalanche organization, with which I remain in good terms, for letting me lead this great team. I thank all the players I have had the pleasure of coaching and the fans for their unwavering, unconditional support.
I remain forever loyal to the Avalanche with which I played 478 games, coached another 253, and won two Stanley Cups."
