Patrick Roy is ready and open to a National Hockey League return.
That message was broadcasted by his new agent, Neil Glasberg, on Monday when Glasberg fired off a tweet destined to pop up in the feeds of NHL owners and managers.
Roy, the 55-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion, is happy acting as general manager and head coach of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. He is not departing the junior club.
But when Roy was approached by Glasberg — whose PBI Sports & Entertainment represents more NHL coaches than any other agency — and pitched the idea of exploring a return to the big leagues, Roy was enthused.
The two signed an agreement over the weekend in preparation for the inevitable coaching and executive changes that will take place following the conclusion of the 2020-21 regular season.
Several teams — including the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks — do not have a coach under contract for 2021-22.
“He could be a president of hockey ops. He could be a GM. He could be a co-GM. He could be a head coach,” Glasberg told Sportsnet Monday. “It’s going to be situational. That’s the truthful answer.”
No deal between Roy and any NHL organization is imminent and, Glasberg asserts, there has been “zero communication” between Roy’s camp and the Canadiens.
Roy followed up his decorated playing career by coaching the Remparts to a Memorial Cup in 2006.
He was hired to serve as head coach and vice president of hockey ops with the Colorado Avalanche in 2013 and won the 2014 Jack Adams Award as a rookie bench boss.
Citing a lack of input in personnel decisions, Roy stepped down from his role with the Avalanche in the summer of 2016. He was subsequently replaced by head coach Jared Bednar and returned to junior hockey.
Roy’s Remparts went 17-9-4-2 this season.
“I’d love to give this a shot and see what happens. And if something works out, fantastic. And if it doesn’t, we can’t say we didn’t try,” Glasberg said.
“It’s worth taking a shot right now.”
