Habs Prospects
Canadiens Prospect Rankings – The Enigmatic Joshua Roy
Our 2025 Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings continue with one of the most polarizing players in the system, forward Joshua Roy.
As a reminder, to qualify for our list, Habs prospects must under 24 years old and have fewer than 75 NHL games under their belt. The rankings are based on the votes from almost 10,000 Canadiens fans.
9. Joshua Roy, Shoots Left, 22, Left wing, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6’0″, 192 lb. Picked 150th Overall (2021)
Roy’s tenure in professional hockey has been a tale of two cities, literally and figuratively.
He enjoyed a very solid rookie season in the NHL last year, with his call-up being powered by a strong performance in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. Beyond the four goals and five assists in 23 games with the Habs, Roy had some of the most encouraging underlying numbers of any Montreal Canadiens player in 2023-24.
However, a sleepy performance at training camp in 2024-25 led to Roy starting the season back in Laval, where he spent the bulk of his season before a quick stint in Montreal that lasted just a dozen games, with limited ice time.
In other words, consistency has been an issue, both in his usage and results.
Roy is the type of player who seems impossible to stop whenever the confidence is flowing, however, he also disappears during stretches when he starts to lose a little conviction in his overall play.
Joshua Roy’s Production
On the surface, it may seem that Roy’s AHL production took a hit last season, as he managed 0.74 points per game, down from 0.78 points per game in 2023-24.
That being said, he trusted his excellent release more frequently, leading to an uptick in shots per game, as well as a significant improvement in the goal-scoring department. Roy finished the season with 20 goals, seven more than he had the previous year.
The most encouraging aspect of his season took place in the Calder Cup playoffs, where he finished second in Rocket scoring with four goals and five assists in 13 games. Veteran Alexandre Barre-Boulet led the charge with three goals and eight assists, but has since signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche, making Roy the most productive remaining playoff performer in the lineup.
While many players faded to the background in important playoff games, Roy managed to take a step forward in a newly formed line that included fellow prospects Oliver Kapanen and Sean Farrell.
Oliver Kapanen gets Laval on the board. More solid work from the newly minted Farrell – Kapanen – Roy line. #LavalRocket pic.twitter.com/QhvkzAWmlC
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 29, 2025
It was also very encouraging to see him head into high-traffic areas, connoting that he understood skill alone would not get the job done in the playoffs.
Joshua Roy drives into traffic to score his first goal of the playoffs. 4-1 #LavalRocket pic.twitter.com/QHfKlRXV6Y
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 22, 2025
A Realistic Approach
There was a time when Roy was the only legitimate candidate to one day make his way to the NHL among a sea of mediocre Canadiens forward prospects, but he’s since become a vestige from a former management group who lacked foresight in several departments, including prospect development.
With Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, and others in the mix, Roy is no longer the lone bright spot in a sea of eternal prospect sadness, but he’s still held to somewhat unrealistic expectations when we consider he was a fifth-round pick.
It’s starting to become clear that playing on the top line in the NHL is likely out of the question, but he’s still young enough to be considered a top prospect based on his play in Laval.
The best way forward for all would be readjusting our expectations, keeping them in line with his usage. He’s not going to score 50 points from the Canadiens’ fourth line, but serving in a middle-six role is still a possibility.
What’s Next For Montreal Canadiens Prospect Joshua Roy
The pressure won’t go away next season.
If anything, it’ll ramp up considerably, especially if Roy fails to make the Canadiens out of camp.
Roy is in the final year of his entry-level contract, which means he’ll have to convince executives who did not draft him that he still deserves important minutes in Laval, as well as consideration for a call-up to Montreal.
It’s not an ideal situation for a player whose confidence fluctuates, but such is life in the professional sports landscape. In the end, Roy is the one who will make the decision regarding his NHL aspirations, even if he’s not in control of all the variables.
As Cole Caufield always says, pressure is a privilege, one that must be embraced every single shift.
Previously Published 2025 Montreal Canadiens Prospect Articles:
Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Introduction, 2024 Retrospective
Canadiens Prospect Rankings: The Departed And Traded
Canadiens Prospect Rankings: The Honourable Mentions
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.20 – Filip Mesar
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.19 – Luke Tuch
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.18 – Aatos Koivu
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.17 – Sean Farrell
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.16 – Vinzenz Rohrer
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.15 – Jared Davidson
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.14 – Bogdan Konyushkov
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.13 – Hayden Paupanekis
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.12 – Tyler Thorpe
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.11 – L.J. Mooney
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.10 – Adam Engstrom
Do you agree or disagree with the Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
Montreal Canadiens and Joshua Roy statistics via Elite Prospects
How much longer is he waiver exempt? Just this year? I’d hate to lose him for nothing if he’s still not quite ready for us even by next year’s training camp.
Good with Roy @ #9. Not sure I would put the #11 and #13 ranked above those who have professional experience and look to have the potential to move into an NHL role. I realize Hage will fall into this same category…
Just think it is hard to rank an amateur trying to get to pro hockey ahead of a kid already there. I do not think these younger players are “Hutson like” and will step into NHL.
Think Davidson and Tuch are farther along…will wait and see with #11 and #13. I understand their skill, or in one case size, make them attractive – get them to pro game and let’s see. Kidney, Mesar and Hillis were bright lights in lesser leagues. One in in Europe, Kidney and Mesar need big AHL seasons – or they will be in Europe too.
Tuch and Davidson may be 4th line NHLers…
I was sold on this guy that past few years, thought he had the ability to thrive in a production focused middle 6 role in Montreal. I was excited when we drafted him as I followed him as a junior player. But as we continue to add high quality prospects and players, the role I thought he could excel at has been filled by others like Demidov , Laine and Bolduc. Plus Newhook, Anderson Gallagher and Dach offer more compelling skills. The window of opportunity is almost closed. Last year he was more north south and predictable during his recall – go to the front of the net and try to score from the hard areas. Doing that offsets his lack of speed but it also reduces his creative nature. Plus when it’s time to defend, he has the long route back. I think it’s a critical camp for him Perhaps he gets a better opportunity in another organization if he doesn’t make the team?
One thing that impresses me about Roy is that he is able to score a lot of goals without being fancy. He seldom tries to deke the goalie with fancy highlight reel moves. He just shoots the puck past the goalie very smartly.