On Monday morning, fans of the Montreal Canadiens received two positive updates. First, Joshua Roy has been recalled from the Laval Rocket. Although he was projected to start the season in Montreal, a lackluster performance during training camp led the Canadiens to temporarily demote him. Now, at 21 years old and with 16 points in 17 games for the Rocket, he has earned another opportunity in Montreal.
Additionally, Patrik Laine was seen practicing with the Canadiens in a full-contact jersey for the first time since his preseason injury. While his return is anticipated, head coach Martin St. Louis indicated that Laine likely won’t debut this week, meaning his first game back might be against his former team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, on Tuesday.
Roy has begun practice on the Canadiens’ second line alongside Jake Evans and Emil Heineman, and he is set to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky are currently on the fourth line as a wake-up call after their slow start, contributing only 19 points together. They could rejoin the second line once their performance improves, which would shift Heineman, Evans, and Joel Armia to the fourth line.
Roy is also expected to receive some power play time, likely on the second unit with Lane Hutson, Alex Newhook, Brendan Gallagher, and Joel Armia, which would replace Heineman. Although Heineman has been effective on the power play, Roy is known for his strong one-timer and superior passing skills. He could also earn top power play minutes if St. Louis chooses to further discipline Slafkovsky and Dach.
In light of Roy’s recall, Lucas Condotta has been sent back to Laval. As the captain of the Rocket, Condotta tallied four assists in ten AHL games and scored once in seven NHL games this season. Since going undrafted, the 27-year-old has been with the Canadiens since 2021, appearing in eleven NHL games.
During his time with the Canadiens, Condotta played as the fourth-line center, a role likely to be filled by either Jake Evans or Christian Dvorak moving forward. Returning to Laval, Condotta will join a strong Rocket team that has started the season well. While losing Roy is a significant setback for the offense, having their captain back is a worthwhile trade-off.
