Who is Benoit Desrosiers? Patrick Roy's rumored new NY Islanders assistant

When Patrick Roy was introduced as the New York Islanders' new head coach on Saturday, the coaching staff remained the same, but that could be changing.

Per a report from Stephane Leroux, a reporter from French Canadian network RDS, Benoit Desrosiers, is set to be Roy's third assistant coach on the Islanders bench for the remainder of the season. Desrosiers had worked alongside Roy as an assistant with Quebec Remparts from 2018 to 2023. He will join a staff that currently includes Doug Houda and John MacLean, who were retained following the firiing of head coach Lane Lambert after 45 games this season.

Following the report circulating, the Islanders refuted the story saying that Desrosiers had not been hired by the team, but there were plans for him to meet GM Lou Lamoriello in the future.

After a Memorial Cup win in 2023 (The Remparts first in 17 seasons), Roy walked away from the team, and Desrosiers became the coach of the Gatineau Olympiques, another QMJHL franchise, whose list of alums includes Islanders Hall-of-Famer Billy Smith when they were known as the Hull Castors in the late 1960s. Desrosiers, 35, has also been an assistant coach with Sherbrooke Phoenix for four seasons and the Chicoutimi Saguenéens during the 2012-13 campaign.

He joins a whirlwind situation for Roy on Long Island, taking over the Islanders in the middle of the season with every game crucially important for their playoff chances. Roy had a successful debut on Sunday night versus the Dallas Stars, coming away with a 3-2 O.T. win on Bo Horvat's game-winner.

Roy believes his structured defensive system he instituted in juniors will translate into success at the NHL level, hiring another coach and voice that is familiar with his objectives and how the system is coached should help accelerate the learning process for the Islanders this season.