Patrick Roy's return to the NHL is “deserved,” says his former general manager Serge Savard, with whom he won his two Stanley Cups in Montreal. “He went back to school for junior hockey, he rode the bus, he won the Memorial Cup. He paid his tithes,” Mr. Savard praised in an interview with NewspaperSATURDAY.
“It would have been a shame if he hadn’t gotten another chance in the National League. [après son départ de l’Avalanche du Colorado, en 2016]. He deserved this chance, Le Senator added. I’m really happy for him.”
In the eyes of the legendary defender, the equally legendary goalkeeper “didn’t miss a step” and he will bring “experience” as he “knows the game very well” and “a lot of enthusiasm for the Islanders”.
“Open Doors”
The two men did not communicate regularly, Mr. Savard said, but Patrick Roy notably attended his golf tournament last summer.
And at the time, the former Canadiens and Avalanche's possible return behind the bench of an NHL team caused a lot of buzz, while his name was primarily associated with the Ottawa Senators.
“I have great self-confidence. He has a chance, it's up to him to prove himself. Maybe it could open doors for the future elsewhere,” commented Serge Savard.