Joshua Roy just made this summer a bit tougher for Martin St-Louis in Montreal. The Canadiens player talked honestly during his end-of-season remarks.
He mentioned that he wants to play in the NHL next season, no matter if it’s with Montreal or another team.
This is the important part, not just disappointment after a bad ending in Laval.
It’s a young player looking at his chances and clearly saying he doesn’t want to spend another year in the same situation.
Timing is crucial. Laval’s season ended badly against the Toronto Marlies, where the Rocket was in the lead for most of the game but lost at home.
“My goal is to make it to the NHL next year. It could be with any team,” he said. After that loss, questions about Roy’s future came up quickly.
His future became one of the top concerns because his position in the team doesn’t seem stable anymore.
He has already experienced playing in the NHL, which makes it harder to be patient. For a player aiming for a full-time spot, hearing promises is one thing, but actually getting real playing time is completely different.
Montreal might not have enough space for Joshua Roy.
The biggest sign showed up during the playoff time.
Roy was not called up as a backup player for the Canadiens, while Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj moved closer to being on the main team.
This speaks volumes about the team’s hierarchy. It also indicates that Roy may already be falling behind in a competition that is becoming more intense for wing positions.
For Kent Hughes, this situation becomes intriguing. Roy is still young enough to be valuable, and he’s frustrated enough that moving to a different team doesn’t seem unlikely anymore.
He is about to become a restricted free agent this summer, which means Montreal has a say in what happens next.
However, having control doesn’t mean everything fits, especially since the player has made his feelings very clear.
If the Canadiens think Roy can still be part of their top six players, they should act quickly. If they wait too long, it may look like they will have to trade him before his value decreases.
No matter what, Roy has been very clear. He wants to play in the NHL next season, and he seems willing to look elsewhere if he has to.
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