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Montreal Canadiens: 3 Prospects Who Could Force Their Way Into Habs Lineup Next Season

By Ken MacMillan

Dec 30, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY – JULY 23: 2021 NHL Entry Draft Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY – JULY 23: 2021 NHL Entry Draft Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Joshua Roy

Joshua Roy is a little more boom or bust than Guhle. While Guhle could sneak onto the bottom end of the roster and play third pairing minutes with Chris Wideman to start the season, it would make no sense to start Joshua Roy on the fourth forward line.

But, he is so skilled and so talented that he might just steal a job from someone in the top six. He is certainly poised to do that at some point in the near future, but he has the best chance of any of the Habs current prospects to show up at training camp next season and carve out a big role for himself.

Roy was a 5th round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft but committed himself much more off the ice by working out more frequently and being much more careful with his diet. The result was a QMJHL scoring crown with 119 points in 66 games for the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He added 23 points in 11 playoff games.

The St. Georges-de-Beauce native has all the offensive skills you could ask for from a prospect. He can skate, stickhandle, create plays, buy time and space with his agility and puck control and also fire a laser of a shot into the top corner. He overwhelmed defences all season in the QMJHL, averaging just under two points per game.

The only problem, if you can say that, is his age. This was Roy’s 18 year old QMJHL season so he is not old enough to play in the AHL next season. He will either stay on the Canadiens roster or be sent back to the QMJHL.

After scoring 119 points in Junior, there isn’t a lot more for him to prove at that level. All that is left for him to prove is that he is ready to take on a top six role at the NHL level. The Canadiens have a lot of veteran wingers making a lot of money, but there four best right now are probably Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher and Evgeni Dadonov.

Roy is skilled enough that if he is given the opportunity to line up alongside, oh I don’t know, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield in training camp, he just might stick there all season long.

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