Patrick Roy Favored to Return to NHL Before Ron Hextall
By Robert Duff in NHL Hockey
Updated: March 31, 2020 at 2:29 pm EDTPublished:
- Ron Hextall was fired on Monday as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers
- Online sportsbooks are offering a prop bet that Patrick Roy will be back in the NHL before Hextall
- Roy stepped down as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche in August 2016
Is Patrick Roy poised for an NHL comeback? Oddsmakers certainly think so.
On Monday, the hockey world’s attention was focused on the demise of one former all-star goalie — Ron Hextall, who was relieved of his GM duties by the Philadelphia Flyers. But online sportsbooks immediately looked to the future, offering a prop bet on whether another former all-star netminder, Patrick Roy, would return to work in the NHL before Hextall lands another job.
Roy has been out of the NHL since stepping down as head coach and VP of Hockey Operations for the Colorado Avalanche on Aug. 11, 2016.
Odds Roy works in the NHL before Hextall
| Who will return to work In the NHL first? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Patrick Roy | -200 |
| Ron Hextall | +150 |
Inconsistency Hexed Hextall
A 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Toronto on Saturday was the final nail in Hextall’s coffin. It was the third time in four games that Philly had surrendered at least five goals and the seventh time in 23 games this season.
OFFICIAL: The Flyers organization has decided to relieve Ron Hextall of his duties as Executive Vice President and General Manager. https://t.co/W1tKRlqG5d pic.twitter.com/iiAvQlaZoH
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 26, 2018
The Flyers, who last won a playoff series in 2012, are 1-4-1 in their last six games and second-last in the Atlantic Division. They’ll fall to dead-last if New Jersey beats Florida tonight.
A Hard Hab-it To Break?
Hextall was given his first chance as an NHL GM by his former team, just as Roy was given his first NHL coaching job by his old club, the Avs. Ruthless competitors as players, according to hockey people, both men met their demise due to their stubbornness.
Patrick Roy had a 130-92-24 record as coach of the Avalanche
Since leaving the NHL, Roy returned to his old job as coach/GM of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. Many believe that he is biding his time, awaiting his dream NHL job as coach or GM of the Montreal Canadiens.
On November 22, 2008, Patrick Roy returned home.
📖-> https://t.co/DpuHCpoVNe #GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 22, 2018
Roy, of course, led the Habs to the 1993 Stanley Cup before an acrimonious departure from the team in 1995. He announced that he’d never play for the Habs again after being left in the net for nine goals during an 11-1 loss to Detroit. He was traded to Colorado a few days later.
Roy stated later that he regretted how his time in Montreal ended. But if he is in fact awaiting a chance at redemption, you’d have to think Hextall gets back to the NHL before him.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
