Roy, who signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Nashville in July, spent last season with the Blues, scoring nine goals and 28 assists. He's bounced around the NHL of late, spending time with Buffalo, Dallas and Vancouver as well as the Blues since 2012, working primarily in a checking-line role. Still just 31 years old, Roy will hope to resurrect his career with the Predators, and return to the offensive force he was a few years ago with the Sabres (26 goals, 43 assists in 2009-10). It will be interesting to see whether he gets this chance in Nashville, since the Preds are now quite deep down the middle with Mike Ribeiro, Olli Jokinen and Mike Fisher all vying for a spot on the top two lines. Roy’s got some upside, but he’s not a guy you want to take a big gamble on at the draft table.
The Blues were looking for a top-line center when they signed Roy to a one-year contract in the offseason and they hope they've found their man. He is an experienced playmaker who averaged 25 goals from 2005-2012 in Buffalo and has also averaged about 40 assists each year of his career. At 30, Roy still has plenty of game left and leaving the soap opera setting of Vancouver for a much more stable situation in St. Louis will probably help as well. Roy could be considered a top-25 center for the Blues who have a lot of talent around him.
Roy struggled last year to regain his quickness following a leg injury that ended his 2010-11 season early, clashed with team management as the season wore on and was traded to the Stars over the summer. He was a 70-point threat for the three season prior to being injured and will get plenty of opportunity to rebound on last years' muted campaign. He's expected to be sidelined until early November due to a shoulder injury.
Roy's season was cut short with a torn quad right before Christmas, but before suffering the injury, he was on pace for about 25 goals and 45 assists. A late return to the ice in the playoffs was encouraging for Roy's prospects of entering camp completely healthy, and with that there is no reason to think he'll do anything less that dump in 20 to 25 goals again. He's far and away the team's No. 1 center.
Roy was incredibly consistent in 2009-10, posting almost the same numbers as he put up in 2008-09. Roy is productive and durable, having played in at least 75 games in each of the last four seasons. Twenty-five to 30 goals and 65 to 70 points can be penciled in for Roy before the season even starts, and at 27 years old, he could be expected to even perform beyond the 26 goals and 43 assists that he had last year.
Roy struggled to meet expectations last season. While he still led the team in scoring with 70 points, he dropped from being 18th in the league in scoring to 39th. But don't be too concerned about this center's scoring ability. Most of Roy's problems came late in the season, which could have in part been due to a line change. If fellow center Tim Connolly remains healthy, Roy could be moved to the second line, which would free him up and allow his speed to do more damage. Roy should continue to grow as a player in what could be the prime of his career. �@
Roy had a very good 2007-08 season (32 goals, 49 assists and a plus-13 rating) that was punctuated by a second-half surge. After Jan. 1, Roy accumulated 51 points in 41 games. The only players with more points during that span were wunderkinds Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin. Roy is one year into a six-year, $24 million deal that may prove to be a bargain once all is said and done. The 25-year-old makes up for a lack of size with tenacity and a keen ability to see plays develop. He is one of the league’s best young centers and also one of the most underrated. He could reach 90 points for the first time this season.
Roy tallied a career-high 63 points (21G, 42A) last season. He is expected to center Buffalo's second line in 2007-08. The downside is that he will be separated from former linemate Thomas Vanek, but Roy's upside remains significant. He and Maxim Afinogenov established a strong rapport last year, which should continue this season, and Jochen Hecht is a capable scorer on the other wing. Seventy points is a reasonable target for Roy in 2007-08.
Roy had a great sophomore campaign in 2005-06, scoring 18 goals and 28 assists in 70 games. Roy may see a little more playing time in 2006-07 after he notched 15 points in 18 playoff games. Although Roy is technically a center, the glut of centers in Buffalo may cause the Sabres to move him to wing. Roy should get you 50-60 points this season and he has the potential for even more.
Roy, generously listed at 5-foot-9, 190, was Buffalo's second-round pick in the 2001 Entry Draft and the 32nd player taken overall. He's a gritty player with a big heart, and he's impressed the Sabres with his attitude and spunky play. Roy finished his rookie campaign with nine goals, 10 assists and a minus-8 rating in 49 games in 2003-04. Expect him to build on that in 2005-06 -- probably not enough for fantasy value this season, but his game's on the rise and he's a good keeper league snag.
Roy, generously listed at 5-foot-9, 190, was Buffalo's second-round pick in the 2001 Entry Draft and the 32nd player taken overall. He's a gritty player with a big heart, and he's impressed the Sabres with his attitude and spunky play. Roy finished his rookie campaign with nine goals, 10 assists and a minus-8 rating in 49 games in 2003-04. Expect him to build on that in 2004-05 -- probably not enough for fantasy value this season, but his game's on the rise and he's a good keeper league snag.
