The Montreal Canadiens faithful received two pieces of good news on Monday morning. The first is that Joshua Roy has been recalled from the Laval Rocket. He was expected to start the year in Montreal but following a poor training camp performance, the Canadiens deemed a short-term demotion was necessary for him. However, he has earned a second chance in Montreal. The 21-year-old has produced 16 points in 17 games this year for the Rocket.
Roy recalled from Laval
The second piece of good news is Patrik Laine was spotted at Habs practice in a full-contact jersey for the first time. Laine, who was injured in the preseason isn’t expected to make his season debut this week, however. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis stated after practice Monday morning that a return for Laine is imminent but, he doesn’t expect him to play this week. That would mean Laine’s next opportunity to return to the lineup would be on Tuesday. Furthermore, it would come against his former team, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Joshua Roy’s Place on Canadiens Roster
Roy started on the Canadiens second line at practice with Jake Evans and Emil Heineman. He is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky were on the fourth unit at practice. This move is meant as a wake-up call for the duo which has struggled to begin the year. They only have 19 points between them. Once they improve their play, they will likely join Roy on the second line. This means Heineman, Evans, and Joel Armia will make up the fourth unit.
Joshua Roy should also see some power play time with the Canadiens. He likely will be starting on the club’s second unit with Lane Hutson, Alex Newhook, Brendan Gallagher, and Joel Armia. If that is the case he will take Emil Heineman’s spot. Heineman’s shot has been an asset to the power play but Roy has a solid one-timer of his own as well as a better passing game. Roy could also see top power play minutes if St. Louis decides to punish Slafkovsky and Dach even further by taking them off the top unit,
Lucas Condotta Sent to Laval
With Joshua Roy being recalled from the Rocket, forward Lucas Condotta was sent the other way. Condotta serves as the captain of the Rocket. He managed four assists in ten games in the AHL this year as well as one goal in seven games with the Canadiens. The 27-year-old went undrafted and has been in the Canadiens organization since 2021 appearing in eleven NHL games.
Condotta served as the fourth-line centre for the Canadiens during his stint. Jake Evans or Christian Dvorak will likely take over fourth-line centre duties for the foreseeable future. Upon his return to the minors, Condotta will be joining a stacked Rocket squad that has been rolling to start the year. While the loss of Roy will be a big hit offensively for the team, getting their captain back is a solid consolation.
Laine return on the Horizon and what it means for Roy
Once Patrik Laine returns he will be immediately slotted into the team’s top six. However, it is unclear who exactly he will play with as the Canadiens lines have been in a blender since the beginning of the year.
While Roy should be excited for his opportunity with the Canadiens, he can’t take it lightly. Patrik Laine is returning in the next couple of games and he will be taking someone’s roster spot. If Roy wants to remain in Montreal, he has to prove his worth to the big club. If not, he is at risk of losing his spot to Laine. The Canadiens likely don’t want to start Laine on a back-to-back meaning Roy will have four games to make his mark in Montreal.
If Joshua Roy remains with the Canadiens it means someone else has to sit. Michael Pezzetta has been the 13th forward all season but he could soon have some company in the press box. It’s possible Emil Heineman could return to Laval as he is waiver-exempt. However, he has played well in a bottom-six role, especially as a rookie. Josh Anderson, Gallagher, and Dvorak have been a solid trio and Jake Evans is having his best season as a Canadien. Joel Armia then becomes the most likely candidate to sit amongst the veterans.
Main Photo Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
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