Projection: Top-Four Defender with Power Play Upside

Strengths: Mobility, Vision from Point, Rush Defending

Development Opportunities: Strength

Roy is as electric as they come when it comes to defensive prospects in this year’s class, combining high-end skating ability in conjunction with aggressive offensive instincts which allows him to drive play from the backend. He’s able to rush the puck up ice with relative ease, building speed through quick crossovers in order to execute controlled entries and create chances for himself and his teammates ff the rush. He’s not overly dynamic from the point but rather cool, calm and calculated by keeping his head up and either spotting downhill passing options or shooting low and hard shots towards the net looking for deflections. His backwards skating is highly impressive as well, allowing him to stay in front of puck-carriers while defending off the rush and killing plays on 1v1 sequences. He lacks the preferential size for a defender at 5’9 and 157 lbs, but I think with some further physical development to go along with his pre-existing tools, he could become one of the more productive defenders to come out of this class when it’s all said and done.

Roy’s strong skating base and aggressive instinctual play allowed him to play a role in Lévis’ transition game while also being a stalwart defending off the rush. He was quite effective in the offensive zone, often looking to attack down the wall while holding the puck at the point, slipping through checks to gain access down low before hooking a pass to the slot area. Some of his best moments in transition came as a puck rusher, where he often opted to take the space that was offered to him in order to build speed through crossovers and enter the offensive zone with speed and control. I noted a couple of sequences where he was able to utilize his lateral mobility to close quickly on puck-carriers and kill entries at the defensive line before making a quick outlet up ice to initiate a counterattack chance.

The versatile defenseman had an impressive showing in this game, using his outstanding skating ability to generate rushes and create breakouts out of his own zone to ignite the offense. Roy is a dynamic and smooth skater who excels in transition, constantly turning defensive plays into offensive opportunities with clean, decisive puck movement. He really impressed me tonight, confidently holding the blue line in the offensive zone while consistently posing a threat to the opposition. He blends high-end speed and agility with a strong hockey sense, making him always effective with the puck. He demonstrated his ability to skate the puck through the neutral zone from his own end, effectively initiating the rush. While his offensive game sense is a standout, he doesn’t neglect his defensive responsibilities, contributing effectively at both ends of the ice. He was able to win his puck battles in his own zone, and was retrieving pucks out cleanly to safe outlets at times. He shows a strong understanding of his role, supporting the forwards in transition when he’s back in his own end. He reads developing plays well, giving himself the opportunity to position himself accordingly in order to kill time and space on opponents’ puck carriers. Being undersized, his defensive game isn’t fully mature yet, and his natural defensive instincts remain a work in progress.