Canadiens prospect Joshua Roy has chemistry with... Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Since the beginning of the rookie camp, one forward is getting a lot of attention. It's the Montreal Canadiens' fifth round draft pick, Joshua Roy. The Saint-Georges-de-Beauce native had all the assets to be drafted in the first three rounds, but his lack of versatility really hurt him. However, he must not be unhappy with the way things turned out. A Quebecer being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, what more could he ask for?
Roy is labeled as a straight shooter, hence his 22 goals in 35 games last year in the QMJHL. His playmaking skills are not very sharp and his skating is not exceptional. However, he has perfected his game over the summer, as we saw at the rookie tournament.
What is fascinating about this one is his age. He turned 18 on August 6, making him one of the youngest players in the 2021 draft. So you know what that means? Having such a young player in your organization means you have to advocate patience.
It's easy to draw a parallel with Jesperi Kotkaniemi who was one of the youngest players in the 2018 draft. The situation is a little different in Roy's case, as he was not the third player selected overall. The message remains the same, you'll have to be patient, even though Roy is having a great pro camp and is breaking everything in junior this year.
The Habs potentially have a gem in their organization and like any jewel, it needs to be taken care of to begin shining later on.
