Patrick Roy resigns from QMJHL's Quebec Remparts amid rumblings of NHL move

Fresh off a Memorial Cup victory, rumoured NHL head coaching hopeful Patrick Roy announced Tuesday he's stepping down from his positions with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, according to TVA Sports.

Roy, who co-owns the Remparts, previously announced that the 2022-23 campaign would be his last as head coach and general manager of the franchise, which he joined in 2005. Since then, The Hockey Hall Of Famer has spent all but five seasons behind the team's bench, including the three years Roy spent as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche — winning the Jack Adams as the NHL's coach of the year in 2013-14.

The timing of Roy's announcement is quite peculiar, as the Ottawa Senators sale to Toronto's billionaire Michael Andlauer was also agreed upon in principle on Tuesday morning. Roy has been connected to a potential Sens head coach opening in the past, and could be a top candidate to take over behind the Ottawa bench if the new owner does clear house and insert his own people into key hockey operations roles like it's been widely speculated.

Roy, however, told media on Tuesday morning that "absolutely [no]" NHL team has reached out to him about a potential coaching gig. With the Rangers reportedly set to hire Peter Laviolette as their 37th head coach and the Flames and Blue Jackets recently filling their vacancies, there's currently no open head coaching jobs in the NHL as DJ Smith is still the coach of the Senators as of this writing — but things are moving quickly there so who knows where we're at this time next week.

Aside from his vast coaching resume, the former Canadiens and Avalanche star has significant front office experience, leading the Remparts to Memorial Cup championships in 2006 and 2023 while serving as GM.

Roy last coached in the NHL in 2016, abruptly stepping down ahead of the 2016-17 campaign while serving as the head coach and VP of hockey operations with the Avalanche. He posted a 130-92-24 (.577 points %) record over three seasons behind Colorado's bench before being succeeded by Jared Bednar, who led the Avs a Stanley Cup title last season.

Before he joined the Avalanche for the 2013-14 season, Roy was the Remparts head coach from 2005 to 2013 and general manager of the junior club since he retired from the NHL in 2003.

After taking two years off following his rocky departure from Colorado, Roy returned to the Remparts as head coach and GM in 2018 and has been at the helm until he stepped down on Tuesday. Former NHLer Simon Gagne is set to take over behind the Quebec bench as their head coach for the 2023-24 campaign after Roy brought him into the organization last offseason to hone him for the role.

The Hall of Famer — widely considered one of the greatest goaltenders of all time — suited up for the Canadiens and Avalanche over his illustrious playing career, winning four Stanley Cups including two with Montreal in 1986 and 1993, and a couple with Colorado in 1996 and 2001.

Roy was an 11-time NHL All-Star and won the Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) and Vezina (top goaltender) trophies three times each.