I will “always” carry Avalanche in my heart

DENVER – As Patrick Roy stepped onto the ice at Ball Arena Monday morning, he took a moment to look up and survey the scene.

His No. 33 banner was still there. So do the banners to commemorate the championships. Roy helped the Avalanche win in 1996 and 2001 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the 2001 Stanley Cup run when he allowed just one goal in Games 6 and 7 combined as Colorado overcame a 3-2 deficit to beat the Devils to defeat.

“I always have the Avs in my heart,” Roy said before the Islanders pulled off a memorable comeback with a 6-2 win. “The same goes for the Montreal Canadiens and the Avs.

“…I texted Joe (Sakic) right after (Colorado won the 2022 Stanley Cup) to tell him how proud I was that they won the Stanley Cup. Playing here for all these years, having the connection with the fans and having the opportunity to wear this jersey night after night is something we are very proud of. We are also proud to see how the team and the organization are doing so well.”

Roy arrived in Colorado in the middle of the 1995-96 season overjoyed after demanding a mid-game trade from Montreal, then spent the rest of his career building a legacy with a franchise that was once the Canadiens' biggest rival.

His first year as coach, 2013-14, felt like a successful homecoming for everyone, as the Avalanche exceeded their expectations and Roy won the Jack Adams Award, given to the league's best coach. Two years later, he suddenly resigned a month before camp, citing differences with Sakic, the general manager.

Eight years later, this is still a turning point for the Avalanche. The coach they hired to replace Roy, Jared Bednar, is still here — and joked Monday that he owes Roy a hug and a steak. Some of the stars Roy helped develop, namely Nathan MacKinnon (who he pushed to make the team) and Gabriel Landeskog, were key figures in this 2023 title.

Although Roy said his focus was still on the Islanders on Monday, it was in stark contrast to his return to Montreal last February, when he refused to answer question after question about his return to the Bell Centre.

However, unlike in Montreal, when he seemed to get a little emotional after the Canadiens honored him before the game, Roy didn't even notice when the Avalanche put him on their video board during the first TV timeout, albeit without a tribute Video accompaniment.

“I focused on our game,” he said. “I was here to win a hockey game.”

Mat Barzal's scoreless goal means he has now scored against all 31 other teams (counting Arizona and Utah as one team).