The move comes amid a recent losing streak that has put playoff pressure on the team. The Islanders had lost four consecutive games, including a 3–4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, and seven of their last ten games. They are one of the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division but need to start winning again to secure a playoff spot, as they hold third place with a 42–31–5 record, only one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Patrick Roy was hired in January 2024, replacing Lane Lambert, and led the team to a third-place finish in the division and a playoff appearance, where they lost to the Hurricanes in the first round. Last season, the Islanders finished sixth with a record of 35–35–12. Roy had an overall record of 97–78–22 over just over two seasons.
The Islanders are the second team this season to fire their head coach just before the playoffs, following the Vegas Golden Knights who recently fired Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with John Tortorella. Pete DeBoer's background includes a strong record, with six conference finals in seven seasons and a Stanley Cup Final appearance with the New Jersey Devils in 2012. He has a career regular-season record of 662–447–152 and a playoff record of 97–82.
This is his first job since he left the Dallas Stars in June last year, after a high-profile conflict with goaltender Jake Oettinger and the team's third consecutive exit in the Western Conference Finals. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, DeBoer's contract is not temporary but a more long-term solution. DeBoer will make his debut as Islanders coach next Thursday when the team hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs.