Joshua Roy’s penance is over. And it only was a question of when, not if.
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The 6-foot, 192-pound forward was recalled by the Canadiens Monday morning from AHL Laval, where he had been demoted in early October after being one of Montreal’s final training camp cuts.
Instead of boarding a bus to Hershey, Pa., for the start of a four-game Rocket road trip, Roy was on the ice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard and is expected to play Tuesday night, when the Canadiens host the Utah Hockey Club at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5FM).
Roy, a left-winger, practised on a line with Jake Evans and Emil Heineman. He received the news of his promotion Sunday night from Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent. Roy said he was packing for Laval’s upcoming trip at the time.
“For sure I’m happy to be here and to be back,” Roy said following practice and a video session that followed the workout. “The main goal is to be in the NHL.
“I wasn’t really focused on (a return). I was more focused on Laval,” added the 21-year-old, who scored eight goals and 16 points in 17 games for the Rocket, including a goal and two assists in Saturday night’s victory at Belleville. It was a welcome sight for Roy, who went seven games without a goal since his Nov. 2 hat trick against Providence. Nonetheless, he scored four power-play goals during his stint and two game-winning tallies.
Those who watched Roy closely in the minors said he was dominant offensively, but also was more involved at both ends of the ice. He returns to the Canadiens as a better version of himself compared with how he played at training camp, when his work ethic and defensive responsibility were questioned.
“The main thing is my pace, without and with the puck,” said Roy, selected in the fifth round (150th overall) in 2021. “That’s what I worked a lot on. It showed a lot in my game. I had more scoring chances. You can see me more (on the ice) I guess.
“For sure I think I’m a better player,” he added. “I think I learned a lot. I went to Laval with a great attitude. I worked on myself and tried to get better. I think I did. I was happy to be in Laval, to get better and have more ice time. Build my confidence.”
The St-Georges-de-Beauce native was promoted to the NHL last January, after scoring 13 goals and 32 points in 41 games with Laval, although he also was a minus-17. Roy scored his first goal for Montreal in his third game, Jan. 17 at New Jersey, and ended the season with four goals and nine points in 23 games.
“I feel he earned (being recalled),” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said. “When he came in (last season) he was feeling good about himself. Hopefully he can bring that (confidence) into our game.”
One of the numerous Canadiens not feeling good about himself is former first-round draft choice Juraj Slafkovsky, coming off a minus-4 performance Saturday during Montreal’s 6-2 home-ice loss to Vegas.
Slafkovsky has scored only one goal this season, while adding 10 assists in 17 games. He hasn’t scored in 13 games and needs to be more engaged while utilizing his 6-foot-3, 225-pound body. There are times when Slafkovsky appears to lack hockey sense.
During Monday’s practice, Slafkovsky was on a line with centre Kirby Dach (no goals in 12 games) and Joel Armia. Dach had been playing right-wing on the Canadiens’ top line, with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. That spot now has been assumed by Alex Newhook.
“He (Slafkovsky) needs to focus on taking what the game is giving him. Playing the game,” St. Louis said. “Not have your mind made up (that) I’d like to do this tonight, I’d like to do that. Just go play the game. Be ready for anything. You have to be engaged.”
With Roy’s return, the Canadiens sent Lucas Condotta back to Laval, where he’s the Rocket’s captain. In seven games with Montreal, Condotta scored one goal.
Notes: Defenceman Mike Matheson, a workhorse who is averaging 24:05 ice time this season, didn’t practise on Monday (therapy day). … Forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who fractured his leg last summer while playing softball and was loaned last week to the Rocket on a conditioning assignment, has accompanied Laval on its trip. The Canadiens obtained an extension from the NHL, allowing the player to remain with the Rocket. The extension is expected to last two games.