Welcome to the Roy Report! Every Wednesday, Patrick Roy peels back the curtain on the team during an in-depth radio interview on FM 104.3 The Fan. Even if you missed it, BSN Denver has your back, providing both a recap and an analysis to keep you up to speed. Patrick Roy moved this weeks interview to Thursday due to the road schedule.

POOR START
The interview launched with questions regarding why this season start has posted a worse record than last year, even after all the talk about learning their lesson from last year’s slow start. Roy believes the first lost of the season, losing to the Minnesota Wild 4-5 after blowing a 4-1 lead going into the third period, really hurt the team. He recognizes the media wants him to be harder on the players but he re-capped how out of eight games, they were ahead, even or one goal down, in other words, they were competitive. He added the penalty kill was ranked first in the league going into the Florida Panthers game.

The follow-up question centered on whether the team was listening to Roy as a coach and whether they are implementing his strategies. Roy believes they are listening to him but they are making game management mistakes such as taking a couple of bad penalties in the third period, being out of position, making a bad pass, giving up an odd man rush. He added when they don’t score goals, making mistakes hurt. However, he added he really likes the intensity of the team and their work effort.

STYLE OF PLAY
Roy was asked if his strategy played to the strength of the team. He believes the offense needs structure to the forecheck and freedom to make plays, find holes, go to the net and let the their skills show. Roy wants a lot of structure defensively. He points out rebounds aren’t ending up on their sticks. They are hitting skates, ahead or behind the player, they never seem to be in the right place to capitalize so they need their luck to improve around the net.

THIRD PERIOD
Roy states he believes the team needs to have a strong third period so they begin to believe they can win in the third period. His goal is for the team to come out of the first period even or ahead, use the second period to set up the third period, and for them to control the third period so they can come out with a victory.

MATT DUCHENE
Roy considers some of the criticism of Matt Duchene’s play fair but adds Duchene is working hard and Roy is confident things will get going for him.

JACK SKILLE
When asked about how they got Skille, Roy answers Assistant General Manager Chris McFarland, formerly of the Columbus Blue Jackets, recommended him for consideration. He likes Skille’s energy and speed along the boards and thinks he has played very well for them.

FINESSE
When asked if the team is too much of a finesse group for Roy’s style of play, Roy acknowledged some validity to the question. However, he responds with a critique of their play. They need to be more hungry around the net, the team has good looks but then tries too hard to be perfect with their shots. They need to simplify things.

Roy mentions asking Lanny McDonald, formerly of the old Colorado Rockies hockey team, what his thought process on scoring was. McDonald told Roy he always aimed to get the puck on the net, he wanted to be within six inches to a foot inside of the net, and he frequently scored on passes from the goalie.

Roy adds the team needs to drive the net and their best players need to be the best players on the ice. He stresses he wants them to simplify their game.

SEMYON VARLAMOV
There is no goalie situation, according to Roy. Varlamov is the team’s number one goalie. He worked yesterday with Francois Allaire in Florida and sees Varlamov playing well for them really soon.

KEYS TO IMPROVEMENT
Roy passionately defends the effort of his players, reiterating they are working hard. They just need to find ways to win. Right now they seem to be finding ways to lose.

He is pleased with their five-on-five play in the Florida game and sees that as a positive to build from. He points out their PK needed to be better in the Panthers game – they were number one in the league going into the game. He adds their power play was horrible and thinks they didn’t see their options well or move the puck well on net. He believes the players need to get their confidence back. He loves to win, but even more than that, HATES to lose. It’s not a lack of effort on the part of the team. He concedes they aren’t having the start they want. However, they are proud and they aren’t giving up. They are positive, they believe in themselves, and they trust in what they are doing.

ROY’S FUTURE
When asked if he was worried about getting fired, Roy responds firmly he’s not nervous about it. He knew when he took the job someday he will be fired. He is fighting hard to get the team on track and sees his work as helping his players to plat the best they can. Also, he is happy to be in Denver.

TURN THE CORNER
When asked about how to help the team turn the corner, Roy reiterates the players need to SIMPLIFY THINGS. He references how Montreal throws everything at the net and they lead the league in scoring, tallying up 36 goals so far. The Avalanche need to get dirty in front of the net and stop playing tic-tac-toe. Throw the puck on the net, and maybe they will get a good screen. Roy stresses it doesn’t matter who the team plays. They need to remain even keel. He points out the win against Anaheim was big but then they lost to Carolina.

Roy states hockey is a game where you need to find pleasure in competing, where you need to find pleasure in winning. Sometimes you just have to put your foot on the floor, and say “(bleep) it’s enough. It’s enough. We have to win tonight.”

TAKEAWAYS
I think the rats hitting the floor after the loss to the Florida Panthers bothered Patrick Roy, just like when they hit him in net during the Stanley Cup championship game. The team needs to dig deep and find a way to win, or at least refuse to lose. He continually reiterated how much he believes in the work ethic of his players and how he still expects them to turn things around.

Roy’s honest assessment of where the team needs to improve was reassuring and his message of shoot the puck, simplify your game, and quit trying to look for the perfect goal resonates with anyone who has been watching them play.

Also, the fact they did a good job of five on five play against Florida does show some improvement, but he’s also right in they need to give a consistent effort throughout the entire game. He seemed just as shocked as anyone else that they went 0-5 on the power play and gave up 3-3 on the penalty kill Tuesday night. Patrick Roy called for the team to flip the switch, and look for ways to win. Tonight, we will see how the team answers his call.

The full audio of Roy’s spirited interview can be found below. Credit to Vic Lombardi and Mike Evans for asking legitimate questions and conducting an outstanding interview.