Patrick Roy has left his position as head coach and vice president of hockey operations with the Colorado Avalanche.
The former goaltender and four-time Stanley Cup champion was named was named head coach and vice president of hockey operations for the Avalanche in May of 2013. In three seasons behind the bench Roy finished with a 130-92-24 record.
Roy was named the Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s best coach in 2014 after guiding the Avalanche to a 52-22-8 finish.
Roy issued a statement Thursday detailing his decision.
“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.”
Roy appeared in 1,029 games with the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche and finished his career with a 551-315-131 record to go with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
The native of Quebec City, Quebec, captured the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender three times and was the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy on three occasions.
Later on Thursday, Avalanche GM Joe Sakic held a conference call to comment on Roy’s decision.
“We have never had an issue of not getting along,” Sakic said during the call. “We were friends as players. We’re friends now.”
Sakic also commented on the team’s upcoming search for a new coach.
