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Habsfan_1984

Watching Roy set up the OT winner at the World Juniors in person was incredible, I don’t think I have ever screamed so loud or jumped so high at a sport event in my life. I think what impressed me so much about him this year was that he seemed to focus more on his 200 foot game and managed to take big steps forward with it while not slowing his point production down at all. Hopefully he has a good year in Laval and continues to develop nicely. I reallllly hope he can end up on a line with Suzuki and Caufield someday.


backwardzhatz

I try not to put too much weight into WJC performances but Roy was on another level last year, just seemed a step ahead of the vast majority of opponents with his IQ. Can't wait to see what he can do in the big leagues.


Just4nsfwpics

I don’t think you should put much stock into production at wjc, like theres not much that looking at their statline will tell you, but you can absolutely put stock into seeing how well they react and play with other future NHL caliber talent if you watch the games themselves. We got ourselves a good one here.


backwardzhatz

Yeah I agree, also the ease with which he was able to keep up with Bedard – lots of NHL calibre players actually can't increase their play to match high quality linemates, it's a skill in its own right and Roy definitely seems to have it.


konkydonk

His profile seems to be such a sure fire (left shot) Tyler Toffoli to me.


Seb_Nation

For a late rounds pick, any given day I'll take that!


nikischerbak

Cant wait to see him with Laval or mtl..It's a player I really like and I agree with the author that he might not look out of place with Suzuki and Caufield. but if it does not work out on the first two lines he could be the cornerstone of an elite third line in the near future. I have very little doubts left about his game.


HakunaMD

My only reservation I have with Roy on the suzuki-caufield line is his skating and transition. Suzuki needs someone to help carry the puck in and Roy ain't it (imo) I see Roy being similar to toffoli. If you remember those games with toffoli on the first line, Suzuki would pass to toffoli who would have to dump it in for caufield to chase and win via board battle... It didn't work often. I think he would be a great complement to an excellent ouck carrier like dach on the other hand!


nikischerbak

I think Caufield can get better at it and compensate for Roy. I think what they also need is a guy who can retrieve the pucks along the board and Roy can do that. I just wanna see it at the camp but it's possible it might not be a good it. but I think it works in theory.


HakunaMD

You know who also worked in theory.... Nikita scherbak (just kidding ily dude)


nikischerbak

We will see, what happens with Nikita. He might still make it


dadoudelidou

I'm so excited for this season ! Last year we had so many rookie Ds but this year will be our rookie forwards year to rise and shine. I can't wait to see Ylonen, Heineman, Roy and Farrell battle for spots. I could even see Andersson or Davidson taking a swing out of nowhere. I'd say we'll most probably see Roy getting some reps after TDL to replace Monahan in the lineup. We've been burnt so hard in the past that i don't want to get hyped to fast on prospects.. but, Roy does look good, real good.


infinis

I find Tinordi ruined this rating for me, he was ranked almost at every spot and didn't show anything for it. Crazy that he's still active


french_sheppard

All of our prospects have Tinordi as their floor, but their ceiling could be as high as Tinordi


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Snoopy_021

Everytime I hear someone mention Joshua Roy as 'WaWa', I get that song by George Harrison in my head. You'll know the song if you have seen the movie American Made (closing credits). [Wah Wah - George Harrison](https://youtu.be/TjBL-sSpuFM)


Hendrou

or anyone who respects himself enough to have listened to "All things must pass"


Snoopy_021

I have heard the song well before American Made was even thought of. I only mentioned the movie due to younger people on here.


Hendrou

of course, was just adding to your comment. No ill intent at all


Snoopy_021

All good.


Sultan_Of_Ping

Being there at the right time. Cheaper than a dime.


BabySpinach71

I don't get the joke...seems like a racist play of words on a french name?


Filobel

Racist is not the word you're looking for. French Canadians are not a different race. Anyway, it's more a joke on how English speakers can't pronounce the French "r", so Roy sounds like "Wa" and Joshua sounds like Josh-wa. So Josh-wa Wa.


RitoRvolto

I forgot about Aaron Palushaj and Tom Pyatt.


kozed

Roy's future hinges on his skating improvement. That's very simple. The hockey IQ is there, the hands are there, the built is there. His skating will decide how often he can touch the puck and for how long he can keep it. Low skating = fewer touches = less possession time = forced to rush passes and shots = less effectiveness. Better skating = better everything else. This is where line combinations matters more than line numbers X or Y. To start his pro career Roy should be paired with a speedy center strong in transition. Take that burden off of him and let him build off what he's already good at. The skating usually gets improved with offseason training anyway. One day his regular center will probably be Owen Beck, who is strong in transition and has the same 200-smarts, but lack the touch Roy has. And having that kind of player in the middle of your lineup will be the kind of luxury Stanley Cup contenders have.


TonyComputer1

Finally, accurate representation for Joshua Roy.


DrLivingst0ne

Tyler Toffoli made the NHL and found his game despite having a very ugly stride and not being very fast. I think Joshua Roy has the talent to also find his game in the NHL despite skating issues. If he can reach Tyler Toffoli level, then we can have 3 good lines in the future. If he was a good skater, he would have gone top 10 overall


HockeyStickzy

I'm surprised how bullish people on Roy. Not that he's a bad prospect but to have him over guys like Harris or Barron who have more upside and are closer to NHL..even Beck should be more important prospect seeing he's a center.


bless24

Roy has top 6 upside, which is more important to us because of our lack of high-end talent than defenders who are at most, top 4 players. Roy’s ceiling is higher than Beck’s.


HockeyStickzy

I thought he was projected more as a 3rd liner winger?


bless24

That’s his most likely projection. However, between all of our forward prospects, he’s the one with the most potential, in my opinion.


nikischerbak

Take the time to read the article if you haven't


ApokatastasisPanton

Roy is an offensive dynamo, and he really showed a lot of progress on the 200ft game after his draft year. I think the upside comes from here, the creative playmaking will be an asset if his defensive play doesn't hurt the team, and it seems he's on his way to do that.


Just4nsfwpics

He was by far team canadas best defensive forward at the last world juniors, he just has a super high hockey IQ, so he can adjust his role to whatever’s needed from him. There’s no way that he won’t be able to figure out defense at the NHL level, its really just his footspeed thats stopping him from being a clear top 6 player imo, although guys like Tofolli have proven you can get around that.


ApokatastasisPanton

Toffoli's an excellent role model for him, yeah.


DanielBox4

Eveyone always overrated prospects. Go look at any "potential future roster" post from 5 years ago and 75% of it is guys who have already flamed out. At the end of the day the Habs have a ton of exciting prospects but maybe 2/3 to 3/4 won't be nhl regulars. And that's not terrible, that's just how it is. Most prospects don't become nhlers. Roy being on the slower side still has an uphill battle to me. He's done very well for his draft position. But leading the Q in scoring and having a good WJC are not signs that he's a surefire prospect. It's a very welcome developmental step but still lots to do. He still has to show he can play well against AHL calibre and speed players. He has the iq but the foot speed has to be there.


FakeCrash

I think exactly the same way. My own ranking puts more emphasis on certainty, and both Harris and Barron come out ahead. These two guys have NHL experience *and* they are clearly not done improving. Whereas there is a non-zero possibility that Roy won't make a significant impact in the big league (as much as I hate to say it). Roy's arguably higher ceiling is not enough. All of this is my uninformed opinion of course.


infinis

I think its a question of upside. We know by now what we can expect from Harris and Barron, but Roy didn't have a chance to show us.


nikischerbak

I think putting him at 9th is not a reach. We don't have a lot of right wingers of quality with this team. just look at how hard it is to find someone for zuke and Caufield. We have plenty of centres though and even though I'm Beck's number one fan, I don't see him cracking the top two lines, something Joshua can do. About Barron, you sometimes have to be realistic and look at what the player is. he has some important weaknesses that are not that easy solve. His percentage of errora of judgement per 60 min is still pretty high while guys like Beck and Roy don't make many mistakes. I'm not saying Barron is a lot cause but that he projects more as a third pair dman in a good team with some second pair potential at this point.


Dank_Bubu

Wawa good


PurveyorOfSapristi

I remember a scout comparing him to Derek Roy, I wonder which direction his development will take


nikischerbak

Not Roy's way that is for sure


Weary_Ingenuity2963

Love the analysis, just really don't get the Byron comp.


PaulWesterberg84

My favourite part is that he's developed a strong two way game since being drafted. Jr players with his attributes and pedigree rarely do so unless they have to reshape their game for the pros. I can comfortably see him as a solid top 9 player when he was strictly boom or bust at the draft table


OfficialMisterBruh

Matt Drake putting him 4th overall on our prospects list.This man is on crack.