Our 2025 Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings continue with one of the most polarizing players in the system, forward Joshua Roy.
As a reminder, to qualify for our list, Habs prospects must under 24 years old and have fewer than 75 NHL games under their belt. The rankings are based on the votes from almost 10,000 Canadiens fans.
9. Joshua Roy, Shoots Left, 22, Left wing, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6’0″, 192 lb. Picked 150th Overall (2021)
Roy’s tenure in professional hockey has been a tale of two cities, literally and figuratively.
He enjoyed a very solid rookie season in the NHL last year, with his call-up being powered by a strong performance in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. Beyond the four goals and five assists in 23 games with the Habs, Roy had some of the most encouraging underlying numbers of any Montreal Canadiens player in 2023-24.
However, a sleepy performance at training camp in 2024-25 led to Roy starting the season back in Laval, where he spent the bulk of his season before a quick stint in Montreal that lasted just a dozen games, with limited ice time.
In other words, consistency has been an issue, both in his usage and results.
Roy is the type of player who seems impossible to stop whenever the confidence is flowing, however, he also disappears during stretches when he starts to lose a little conviction in his overall play.
Joshua Roy’s Production
On the surface, it may seem that Roy’s AHL production took a hit last season, as he managed 0.74 points per game, down from 0.78 points per game in 2023-24.
That being said, he trusted his excellent release more frequently, leading to an uptick in shots per game, as well as a significant improvement in the goal-scoring department. Roy finished the season with 20 goals, seven more than he had the previous year.
The most encouraging aspect of his season took place in the Calder Cup playoffs, where he finished second in Rocket scoring with four goals and five assists in 13 games. Veteran Alexandre Barre-Boulet led the charge with three goals and eight assists, but has since signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche, making Roy the most productive remaining playoff performer in the lineup.
While many players faded to the background in important playoff games, Roy managed to take a step forward in a newly formed line that included fellow prospects Oliver Kapanen and Sean Farrell.
Oliver Kapanen gets Laval on the board. More solid work from the newly minted Farrell – Kapanen – Roy line. #LavalRocket pic.twitter.com/QhvkzAWmlC
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 29, 2025
It was also very encouraging to see him head into high-traffic areas, connoting that he understood skill alone would not get the job done in the playoffs.
Joshua Roy drives into traffic to score his first goal of the playoffs. 4-1 #LavalRocketpic.twitter.com/QHfKlRXV6Y
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 22, 2025
A Realistic Approach
There was a time when Roy was the only legitimate candidate to one day make his way to the NHL among a sea of mediocre Canadiens forward prospects, but he’s since become a vestige from a former management group who lacked foresight in several departments, including prospect development.
With Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, and others in the mix, Roy is no longer the lone bright spot in a sea of eternal prospect sadness, but he’s still held to somewhat unrealistic expectations when we consider he was a fifth-round pick.
It’s starting to become clear that playing on the top line in the NHL is likely out of the question, but he’s still young enough to be considered a top prospect based on his play in Laval.
The best way forward for all would be readjusting our expectations, keeping them in line with his usage. He’s not going to score 50 points from the Canadiens’ fourth line, but serving in a middle-six role is still a possibility.
What’s Next For Montreal Canadiens Prospect Joshua Roy
The pressure won’t go away next season.
If anything, it’ll ramp up considerably, especially if Roy fails to make the Canadiens out of camp.
Roy is in the final year of his entry-level contract, which means he’ll have to convince executives who did not draft him that he still deserves important minutes in Laval, as well as consideration for a call-up to Montreal.
It’s not an ideal situation for a player whose confidence fluctuates, but such is life in the professional sports landscape. In the end, Roy is the one who will make the decision regarding his NHL aspirations, even if he’s not in control of all the variables.
As Cole Caufield always says, pressure is a privilege, one that must be embraced every single shift.
Previously Published 2025 Montreal Canadiens Prospect Articles:
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.11 – L.J. Mooney
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.10 – Adam Engstrom
Montreal Canadiens Top Prospect Rankings – Final List
Do you agree or disagree with the Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
Montreal Canadiens and Joshua Roy statistics via Elite Prospects
