Joshua Roy has had quite the start to the season with the Laval Rocket. He was long at the top of the AHL's leading scorers, and many hoped that the Canadiens would recall him. However, Kent Hughes advocated for patience with the young man, and it seems to have paid off. He has slowed down a bit since then, despite his 12 points, including five goals, in 10 games.
The now 20-year-old Quebecer must learn the hard way to become a professional. The bus trips and the physical play of the American League make it a more difficult and demanding league for players. According to the man himself, he has real confidence in the plans the organization has for him.
Roy's learning experience with the Rocket, especially in this challenging season, will be greatly rewarded. As the Canadiens' farm team is very young and inexperienced, he will have the chance to play a lot and take on significant responsibilities.
Roy could also be part of the new team culture that is developing as many young players from the organization will surely be the stars of tomorrow's Canadiens. Indeed, Emil Heineman, Sean Farrell, Logan Mailloux, Jayden Struble, William Trudeau, and Mattias Norlinder, to name a few, are the future of the Canadiens. Learning to lose, then to win together, is a huge plus.
Let's let the youngsters, including Roy, learn with the Rocket. Have you already forgotten the cases of Jesperi Kotkaniemi or, more recently, Juraj Slafkovsky? Development takes time, and the Canadiens still have quite a bit of it before becoming a competitive franchise.
