After spending the last two years in the KHL and Swiss NLA, Derek Roy will try his hand in another European professional league this season. The former NHL forward has signed on with Linkoping of the Swedish Hockey League for the next two seasons, which should effectively end any thoughts of a comeback. He’ll be 36 at the end of the contract, and four years removed from NHL play.
In 738 NHL contests, Roy registered 524 points including a career-high of 81 in 2007-08. Though he received Selke votes on multiple occasions, Roy was never afforded many individual accolades but still carved out quite a successful career in the NHL. His effect was felt most early in his career where he helped lead the Buffalo Sabres to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, eventually falling to the Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.
- Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Frattin will follow Roy’s lead and head overseas, signing with the Kunlun KHL team for next season. Frattin has never been able to fulfill his potential as a shoot-first power forward in the NHL, though he’s been a long-time contributor at the AHL level. At just 29 there is a chance of a return, but the success he’ll likely find in the KHL may outweigh any opportunity in North America.