Canadiens: What To Expect From Joshua Roy

At the 2019 Draft, St. John’s Sea Dogs selected Joshua Roy with the first overall pick in the QMJHL draft and anticipated high draft rankings from NHL teams as a result of this selection. Unfortunately for him though, transition from Midget AAA didn’t go smoothly as in his debut campaign in Q he managed only 44 points out of 60 games played. In 2020-21, due to a Covid pandemic which reduced play by one month, he notched 35 points across 35 games played for both the Sea Dogs and Sherbrooke Phoenix. As his numbers from lower circuit were far less impressive, people began calling him lazy or lacking work ethic. Still available in fifth round draft for only 150th overall pick drafting pick by Montreal Canadiens was decidedly risk-taking decision made regardless. From there on out he put on his work boots and enjoyed one of the most productive seasons ever in Quebec Junior hockey; scoring 119 points over 65 games during 2021-22 season as well as 99 in 55 during junior year 2022-23. In his inaugural professional campaign – 41 games with Laval Rocket scoring 32 points led him into Montreal when injury troubles at Canadiens surfaced; eventually played 23 NHL games accruing 9 points before suffering an upper body injury which cut short his season on March 19. Once Roy recovered from his injury, he was sent down to the Rocket once the Habs season concluded on April 17. Unfortunately, however, none of its six games made the playoffs and thus ended his inaugural professional season. Training CampThis year it seems as if Roy felt as though he had arrived already into NHL play. On day one of camp, Coach Martin St-Louis put him immediately onto one of his NHL lines with Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson; perhaps that contributed to him having this perception – however it can be dangerous as NHLers always need to fight for their spot! Brendan Gallagher noted in media interviews earlier in camp. From snatching someone else’s chair, to becoming one of their team’s mainline players and finally seeing younger talent nab it, to seeing father time slow them down further and young guns eyeing off their chair, Roy seems convinced his third line seat belongs solely to him, yet when Patrik Laine got injured suddenly there’s now an empty spot on second line! Bench boss Martin St-Louis did not rule out any possibility when discussing who could potentially replace Laine for two to three months of Laine’s absence, noting the position could be filled by both veterans or youngsters – including Joel Armia, Josh Anderson, Oliver Kapanen and Roy. Since then Armia has proven he can fill that chair according to Martin, while Roy continues to struggle. His efforts at camp have been, to put it mildly. Kapanen had an uneven preseason game against Ottawa Senators, ending it with a negative two rating after taking one shot, making a turnover which led to one goal by Ottawa and passing questionably to teammates. Meanwhile, however, he has shown how versatile of a player he is on both ends of the puck with both offensive instincts and adept defensive play ability. What to ExpectShowing the Finnish player had the better performance so far, Kapanen would make for an ideal candidate not only because he is center but because his face-off assistance can aid Dach and Newhook with faceoff circles.This morning the Canadiens sent Jakub Dobes, Adam Engstrom Logan Mailloux Roy themselves off to Rocket Hockey League; clearly showing their decline while Kapanen and Emil Heineman excelled during camp, earning themselves spots.