After a strong first campaign in the pros, Canadiens forward Joshua Roy didn’t make the cut for this season’s opening night roster. He, along with defensemen Adam Engström, Logan Mailloux, and goaltender Jakub Dobeš, were cut from the camp roster to AHL Laval on Monday, the team announced.
The moves sent the Habs’ opening night roster in stone, meaning 2021 second-rounder Oliver Kapanen cracked the team out of camp and could make his NHL debut soon. Other notable confirmed bits of news include Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, and Arber Xhekaj winning the battle between many young Montreal defenders for roster spots, as well as 2020 second-rounder Emil Heineman making the team with just four career NHL appearances under his belt.
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Roy, 21, was drafted alongside Kapanen in 2021, but he needed to wait until the fifth round to hear his name called. The Quebec native has been on the warpath since, breaking out for nearly 120 points the following season in the QMJHL and putting together 19 points in 14 games for Team Canada at the 2022 and 2023 World Juniors. Turning pro in 2023-24, Roy was among Laval’s better producers with 32 points in 41 games, earning him a lengthy look at the NHL level. He averaged 12:08 through 23 appearances for the Habs, lighting the lamp four times and adding five assists for nine points.
His possession numbers were perfectly average, and his offensive production seemed somewhat sustainable, with a reasonable 11.8% shooting rate and 34 shots making it on goal out of 77 attempts. Nonetheless, the Canadiens believe he needs more seasoning before he’s ready for full-time duties. It’s worth noting Roy did log a team-worst -17 rating on Laval last year, even if his NHL possession metrics (-2 rating, 47.2 xGF%, 49.5 CF%) painted a brighter picture.
Mailloux, meanwhile, misses out on a spot after making his NHL debut in the last game of the 2023-24 regular season. The 21-year-old had an assist and a +1 rating while logging 21:14 in a shootout loss to the Red Wings. The 2021 first-round pick was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team last season after leading Laval defenders in scoring with 47 points (14 G, 33 A) in 72 games with a -8 rating.
Engström, a third-round choice in 2022, is a sleeper candidate for an NHL recall at some point during the season but was never expected to crack the opening night roster. The 20-year-old defender signed his entry-level contract this offseason after two years playing professionally for the Swedish Hockey League’s Rögle BK, logging 22 points and a -10 rating in 51 games last season. That’s strong production in that league from such a young defender, but he’ll need some runway in Laval to acclimate to North American ice.
Dobes, 23, will likely be the Habs’ first call-up from Laval in the event of an injury to their NHL tandem of Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau. The 2020 fifth-rounder doesn’t have any NHL action under his belt but is entering his second professional season after an excellent rookie showing in the AHL last year. His 51 appearances tied him for the league lead with Utah’s Matt Villalta, recording a 2.93 GAA, .906 SV%, and 24-18-6 record.