Canadiens Prospect Joshua Roy’s Odds Of Making The Roster

The Montreal Canadiens are in the midst of a rebuild, and for Kent Hughes and Co., this means prioritizing development over short-term success. This also affords the opportunity to give prospects a chance to play in the best league in the world, should they prove ready.

With that in mind, here is a Habs prospect who could be knocking on the proverbial door, as the team cements its opening night roster.

Who is Montreal Canadiens Prospect, Joshua Roy?

Back in 2019, the Saint-George-De-Beauce, QC, native was picked first overall in the QMJHL draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs. Two years later, he had to wait until the 5th round to hear the Montreal Canadiens call his name, with the 150th overall selection of the 2021 NHL draft.

The 20-year-old prospect signed his Entry Level Contract in the spring of 2022 and should see it expire at the end of the 25-26 season, where he’ll be RFA.

Interesting Progression

After a season and a half with the Sea Dogs, Roy, unhappy with his environment, forced a trade sending him to the Sherbrooke Phoenix. This happened in the middle of a Covid-19-shortened 21-22 season, where he was limited to a total of 35 games.

The following year, things took off for him, as he finished the season as the QMJHL’s top point producer, with a tally of 51 goals and 68 assists (119 pts) in 66 games. He was also invited to join Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, although he was sparsely used in their gold medal run.

In 22-23, Roy finished the season once more amongst the league’s top scorers, this time in 8th place, with 55 goals and 46 assists (99 pts) in 55 games.

Astute observers and quick-mental-math-doers may have noticed that this amounts to the exact same PPG pace as his previous year’s, league-leading pace.

While his total points might have “dipped”, there was however an increased focus on learning to play a 200-foot game during that season, something Roy himself directly requested from his coaching staff.

Team Canada executives noticed as he was re-invited to the WJC, this time playing a significant role in their gold medal conquest alongside Connor Bedard, and seeing special unit duties. For anyone watching the tournament on TSN, it was clear he was instrumental in that championship, just by the sheer number of times Gord Miller pronounced the name Josh “Wawa”!

He finished the tournament with 11 pts in 7 games and for many Habs fans, it was the genesis of the dream of a Bedard-Roy duo sporting the Sainte-Flannelle. A dream the draft lottery Gods would not allow.

Strengths

Roy is a smart player who can control the pace of the game. He uses teammates to his advantage, setting up give-and-go’s or quick passing plays to create open space on the ice. Not dissimilar to a player like Nick Suzuki, he’s also a dual threat.

Goaltenders have no choice but to respect his tremendous shot when he flies down on a 2-on-1. But his passing is also precise and can trump netminders who overcommit. Roy is also a good puck protector who likes to hang on to it. If he doesn’t like what he sees, he’ll make a move or two, until better options manifest themselves.

His passing also shines on the powerplay (he had the most powerplay assists in the “Q” in 21-22), and he can smartly defend and counter-attack on the penalty kill (his 4 PK goals were good for 5th best in the “Q” in 22-23).

Simply put, the tantalizing newest aspect of his game is that it has been considerably rounded out. He’s grown from an “offensive-minded scorer” into a ”complete, jack-of-all-trades, responsible scorer”. This evolution in his game may make him the most complete forward prospect in the Habs’ pool.

Areas to improve

The biggest knock on the 6’, 189 lbs. right-winger has always been his speed. To be fair, he’s no slouch, and this is something he’s improved upon. But he is no Matt Barzal – and likely never will be.

Whether his slowing down the pace and playing East-West type of hockey will translate at the highest level remains to be seen.

That said, given his offensive skills and well-rounded game, it’s not ludicrous to project him as a top-6 winger, although, more likely as a complementary player than a top-line playdriver.

We could see him develop into a Tyler Toffoli-type, dual-threat player who can play with the best of them. And that would be a slam dunk of a 5th-round pick.

Joshua Roy : un but sur un lancer de punition pour l’espoir du #CH ce soir #NHL #HoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/nmbSBFwojF

— André Ménard (@samuelmj01) April 27, 2022

Odds of making the team 

Considering the logjam upfront – even with Christian Dvorak on the injury reserve – it will be hard for any young forward to crack this 23-24 roster. Joshua Roy should be no exception.

This young Beauceron learned everything there was to learn in the ‘Q’ and it would make sense for him to be slotted in the Rocket’s top 6 for the upcoming season.

The road to the NHL can be a long one – which can prove beneficial for some – and unless he blows his competition out of the water at camp, it would appear honing his pro game for a year or two is what’s in store for this promising winger.

Do you think Joshua Roy will make the Montreal Canadiens opening-night roster? Let us know in the comments below!