Two weeks ago, Joshua Roy looked like a guy too good for the AHL. The young Tricolore prospect had amassed 11 points in his first five games of the season with the Laval Rocket, and already, many people wanted to see the CH give the kid a shot in the NHL.
The balloon began to swell rather quickly.
And as much as I love the kid, I couldn’t help but think it was too soon to call him back. Merit-wise, he was definitely there, but sometimes a player’s development is made by making decisions motivated by factors other than merit.
Because even though he was off to a great start this season, and had even been named the AHL’s Rookie of the Month for October, there were bound to be some rough patches, and as it happens…
Congrats to Joshua Roy on being named the AHL Rookie of the Month 🔥😤 pic.twitter.com/2EdbiaSGFV
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 1, 2023
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Roy has now completed a second “five-game stretch”. The first had gone well (11 points), but the second was much quieter, with just one point. In fact, he’s been blanked in his last four games.
And you know what? That’s just fine. Learning to be a better player is about learning to be successful on a regular basis, but it’s also about learning to deal with the bad streaks. Because in the end, they’re pretty much inevitable.
The good news is that the youngster knows he’s in a good place right now. He knows that patience is required and that Laval is a good place to foster his development.
“I’m very patient, I’m fine in Laval, I get a lot of ice time, for my development it’s super good. I’m sure that Martin and Kent Hughes, if they have to call me back, it will be at the right time” -Joshua Roy
Live at 🎙️ from @LangloisMario pic.twitter.com/UEqnTNF8Fv
– 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) November 7, 2023
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In defense of the youngster, he continues to create things in the offensive zone and the Rocket is having a pretty painful season (and the loss of Lias Andersson won’t help). That said, once again, this is a great opportunity for Roy to learn how to deal with adversity and find ways to adjust.
A hockey season isn’t five games, it’s 82 games (in the NHL, at least). It’s extremely difficult to be consistent throughout a campaign and it’s never going to be a smooth ride, and the youngsters have to learn that one way or another.
The last five games haven’t diminished Roy’s potential, far from it. However, they have shown that patience is the key with youngsters, because in the end, this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.
Let’s let the kid develop and learn the rudiments of the AHL trade for a few more weeks or months… and when another big sequence comes his way (because it will come eventually, I’ve no doubt), be careful before you run away in fear and want to recall him as quickly as possible.
In brief
– Carter Hart, a name to watch in Edmonton?
PHI has been willing to listen o Hart and have made it known they’re willing to take on unideal contracts (Campbell?) for the right price.
Is there a fit with EDM? https://t.co/1YlcHtLVVv
– Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) November 7, 2023
– Great opportunity to see Pierre-Luc Dubois and Phillip Danault in the Kings’ Habs uniform, hehe.
Place your bets to live a unique experience in Los Angeles and see the Canadiens take on the Kings, and more!
All proceeds go to @CodeVie_Life, the Serge Savard Fund and the Centennial Emergency Fund!
Bet ↓ #GoHabsGo
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) November 7, 2023
– This would be quite a haul for the Jays.
He’d be a big addition for the Blue Jays. https://t.co/PJ99R2vaLg
– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) November 7, 2023
– Great read.
Marc-Antoine Dequoy’s position change to marauder has put him among the top Canadian players in the CFL. How did he make the transition?
Find out here:https://t.co/a9sqHiXdQO
Go Als Go!🏈 pic.twitter.com/2I3ILhBavO
– Montreal Alouettes (@MTLAlouettes) November 7, 2023
– Read more.
Chronique | Soccer Québec, its new CEO and the suitcases https://t.co/as4dEqQMxi
– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) November 7, 2023