It wasn’t too long ago that Connor Bedard was singing the praises of Joshua Roy.
During the 2023 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, which were held December 26, 2022-January 5, 2023, Canada won the gold medal, beating Czechia 3-2 in overtime of the championship game. Roy earned the primary assist on the game-winning goal by Dylan Guenther, and he finished the tournament tied for fourth overall in scoring, with five goals and six assists in seven games.
The winger from Quebec also earned the respect of Bedard, the tournament’s leading scorer, who would go on to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks a few months later.
“He’s the player that’s kind of popped to me the most,” Bedard told reporters just before the tournament began. “I didn’t know too much about him before the summer and he’s unbelievable. You watch him in practice, and I don’t think he misses a shot. He’s so smart. He’s someone I love watching.”
Roy cemented his status in Bedard’s eyes in the tournament semifinal game, scoring two goals with two assists as Canada blew past the United States 6-2.
“He was unreal,” Bedard beamed after the game. “He’s one of the smartest players that I’ve got to play with, and how he dominated that game and stepped up his game when it mattered most is incredible.”
Chicago Could Reunite Connor Bedard With World Junior Team Linemate Joshua Roy
With Chicago still searching for the right mix around Bedard as he enters his third NHL season, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson might be wise to look north.
Roy, now 22, has already earned Bedard’s trust and admiration, and he plays the kind of smart, versatile game that could unlock another level for the franchise’s centerpiece. If Davidson comes calling, it’s not hard to imagine the Montreal Canadiens at least picking up the phone.
Probably wouldn’t cost too much, either.
Roy entered training camp with a lot riding on his performance. A fifth-round pick by the Canadiens in 2021, Roy is heading into the final season of his entry-level contract, and considering the lack of impact that he has made thus far during his brief time in the NHL, popular opinion indicated that this would be a make-or-break stretch for Roy.
Unfortunately, Roy did little with the opportunity through the first two preseason games and on Saturday, he was sent back to the AHL in Montreal’s first wave of preseason cuts.
“I thought Joshua Roy, for a guy who had a lot to prove, didn’t play like a guy who had a lot to prove,” said Shaun Starr from Montreal-based TSN 690 radio on a recent episode of his podcast. “You know, what are we talking about here with Joshua Roy in terms of where he goes next? I mean, where he goes next within the workings of the Montreal Canadians?”
Joshua Roy’s Future in Montreal Seems Uncertain After Team’s Recent Decision
RG Media’s Marco D’Amico, appearing on “The Shaun Starr Show,” acknowledged Roy’s obvious skill but agreed with Starr that a future with the Canadiens seems unlikely.
“There’s enough hype from him still from his, you know, team Canada days in the world juniors that I believe there is still value, and yes, I think he can play in the NHL,” D’Amico said. “I just don’t think it’s going to be for the Montreal Canadiens at this point. I think he needs a change of scenery.”
Particularly to a team on a rebuild, filled with young, talented players who are growing up together in the NHL. Like Chicago.
“Maybe, who knows, they would like the thought of reuniting Bedard and Roy, who, you know, Bedard loved playing with Joshua Roy internationally, so maybe that works,” D’Amico spitballed.
“I think if Joshua hits the ground running in Laval, there will be interest in him. He was a player that I’ve heard was involved in trade talks this summer. Now those talks obviously didn’t go very far because again teams were looking for more sure things this summer because of the parity. That’s why we didn’t see many trades. They didn’t want futures. They didn’t want prospects. They wanted NHL talent for NHL talent. And so that’s why it didn’t go anywhere. I think the tune may change, for example, if we get into November and December and there’s some of these [teams] that are tanking, looking to get younger, bring in younger talent.”
With just a week remaining before Chicago opens the regular season on Oct. 7 at Florida, there is still a lot of speculation over who will be skating on Bedard’s line. It likely would not take more than a third- or fourth-round pick for the Blackhawks to kick the tires on a reunion with Roy.
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