Joshua Roy Out Indefinitely

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Wednesday afternoon that forward Joshua Roy will be out of the lineup indefinitely.

This is terrible news for a player who has emerged as a top-six weapon for the Habs. Roy was looking like an integral piece for the Laval Rocket as they push towards the American Hockey League playoffs. Very disappointing for the 20-year-old who has looked every bit like an everyday NHL player.

He has also bought into what the Canadiens are asking of the entire team, competing until the last whistle and playing for the crest on the front of the sweater. Roy has been effective in all three zones and his two-way game has made him an ideal option on the team's top line. He blocked a big shot against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night and all signs point to that being the reason for his injury.

It appears to be some form of an upper-body injury, hopefully just a bruise and nothing more serious. But if it is more serious and it does mark the end of his season, he shouldn't hang his head. if anything, he should be happy with what he has done, his play has seen him leapfrog all the other forwards in the system's depth chart.

Looking at his plus/minus differential and his point totals doesn't fully tell the story about how well Roy has played. But to be relied upon in the top-six ahead of Brendan Gallagher, Rafael Harvey-Pinard and let's say Joel Armia, is pretty impressive. Sure those guys aren't exactly top-six talents, it would be easy to trust more experienced players ahead of Roy.

Developmentally, Roy would have benefitted from the experience of his first taste of professional hockey postseason play. Much of the Rocket offence has come from Brandon Gignac and Phillip Maillet, which speaks to the importance of Roy joining the fold. As we all know depth in the playoffs takes precedence above many other factors.

Joel Armia has been playing his best hockey of possibly the last three seasons and I don't think it's just a coincidence. Since playing on a line with Roy and Alex Newhook, Armia has looked rejuvenated. The fact that Roy has been doing what he has with Armia, who is a bottom-six talent and Newhook, who is still finding his way, is a positive for what is to come.

Injuries have been a normal thing for the Canadiens, but that doesn't make dealing with them any easier. Three of the expected pieces that will likely fill the second line have been out at one point or the other. Kirby Dach all year, Newhook for an extended amount of time. And now Roy is out and will be evaluated to see what he is dealing with.