LATEST | NHL legend close to a return behind the bench: Eastern Conference team eyeing him

During the second intermission of the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights game on Saturday night, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman gave an update on coaching searches around the National Hockey League.

When discussing the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friedman mentioned one name he believes they've spoken to - Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion, Patrick Roy.


The Blue Jackets have a good core to build around with the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski, among others. They also have plenty of younger players too including Kent Johnson, Cole Sillinger, Alexandre Texier and hold the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. In a few years the Blue Jackets could be playoff contenders and that may be a very intriguing destination for Patrick Roy.


If he does get hired by Columbus or another team, like the New York Rangers who he's been linked to, it won't be Roy's first rodeo has a head coach in the National Hockey League. From 2013 to 2016, Roy was behind the bench for one of his former teams, the Colorado Avalanche, even winning the Jack Adam's Award in his first season by leading them to a 52-22-8 record.

Two years after leaving the Avalanche, Roy returned to the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL to be their head coach and general manager and is currently with the team at the 2023 Memorial Cup. This season, Roy led the Remparts to their first QMJHL title since 1976.