Emerging from the 2021 NHL Draft’s Fifth Round: Joshua Roy’s Journey with the Montreal Canadiens
Despite falling to the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, forward Joshua Roy has emerged as one of the Montreal Canadiens’ most promising prospects. In his debut AHL season with the Laval Rocket, the 20-year-old received his first call-up to the Canadiens earlier this month, showcasing his skills with a goal and an assist across six games. Returning to Laval, Roy, originally from Saint-Georges-De-Bea, Quebec, described the experience as the realization of a lifelong dream.
“It was fantastic news for me. Growing up, it’s every kid’s dream to one day receive a call to play in the NHL,” Roy told Daily Hive after Tuesday’s practice. “So, I was incredibly happy and excited.”
However, transitioning from dominating the QMJHL to joining the Canadiens in less than a year’s time admittedly required some adjustment.
“The play is slightly different, as is the execution. The players are much stronger, too,” Roy explained. “I tried not to dwell on it too much. In my first two games there, I was a bit nervous, but I got used to it after that.”
After settling in, Roy’s third game with the Habs marked his first NHL goal, a moment that not only brought him joy but also a profound sense of relief as a rookie winger.
“It was an incredible feeling, like a weight lifted off my shoulders, enjoying that moment. The guys were really happy for me.”
Despite its brevity, Roy wasn’t surprised by his return to the AHL this past weekend, indicating that he and Montreal’s management team parted ways amicably, leaving on good terms.
“I wasn’t really shocked to be sent down. I knew it would happen one day,” he said. “They were pleased with what I did. And I was, too.”
The Canadiens’ head coach, Martin St. Louis, also offered some advice to the young player, who had found success on a line with veterans Sean Monahan and Joel Armia.
“When I was there, I didn’t talk much with St. Louis, but when he spoke to me at the end, we discussed what I need to work on,” he explained. “I know what I need to do to possibly become a regular NHL player someday.”
Having Joshua Roy back with the Rocket, where he has accumulated 30 points in 36 games, brings satisfaction to head coach Jean-Francois Houle, who considers Roy one of his top performers.
“He’s a skilled player who can produce for us at a high pace. For a 20-year-old, that’s impressive. He makes plays… so whoever plays with him usually gets points,” Houle said. “He has excellent hockey sense. He just needs to increase his pace to keep up with the game over 200 feet.”
Houle also emphasized that experiencing a taste of life in the NHL can contribute to Roy’s long-term development. He cited the Canadiens calling up fellow forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard in 2022 as an example, highlighting the positive impact such experiences can have on a player’s growth.
“I think they just wanted to give him a taste of it. They did that with Harvey-Pinard two years ago… By doing that, it gives him the opportunity to see where he’s at in his career, and he can assess himself,” he said. “Now he knows because he saw it, he felt it, he was there.”
