Remember Nicolas Roy? He was the Vegas Golden Knights center who won the Stanley Cup in 2023, amassing 68 goals and 98 assists during his Vegas residency. That was good enough for him to be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for... Mitch Marner.
Eventually, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for a conditional 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick. The former Golden Knights forward scored three goals and two assists in 15 games with Colorado, helping them get the President's Trophy. As a result, he gets a little reunion with his former team.
That will be one of the storylines that Golden Knights fans will latch onto when they meet on Wednesday. Fans will reminisce about his ability to strip the puck from his opponents and rush down the ice. They'll also remember his contributions on the lower lines, which led to fantastic campaigns in 2021-22 (15 goals and 24 assists) and 2023-24 (13 goals and 28 assists).
But what else will Golden Knights fans remember about their former forward? Well, there are plenty of things that stick out with the forward, whether it's his offensive penchant or his sneaky-good defensive skills. Here's what a little reunion with Roy will look like in the Western Conference Final.
What a little refresher with Nicolas Roy will look like for Vegas Golden Knights fans
Vegas Golden Knights fans will remember Roy's struggles at the wing during his Vegas residency. He felt uncomfortable trying to generate goals, specifically when it came to shooting the puck. That's why he's only gone over 120 shots on goal once in his NHL career (145 in 2021-22).
Granted, that pickiness has led to a better shot selection. Just look at his 2022-23 season (shooting percentage of 13.9%) 2024-25 season (shooting percentage of 14%). But if there's one thing the Golden Knights should be doing, it's limiting the space that he has. That way, he won't get comfortable when he has that open look.
But what about the defensive side of things? Well, he's averaged 1.6 defensive point shares in an 82-game setting, making him a balanced player (1.5 offensive point shares in the same setting). As mentioned, he's done a terrific job in pickpocketing attackers and transitioning down the ice on the rush.
Expect him to be an absolute pain on the lower lines. That will also mean taking care of the puck, which has been a problem in recent years. If the Golden Knights can avoid cute plays and establish a presence in the offensive zone, this won't be a problem. Heck, even doing this while entering the offensive zone will be a massive help.
It's no secret that Vegas Golden Knights fans will have fond memories of their Stanley Cup hero returning to Las Vegas. They'll remember how he helped the Golden Knights fulfill a promise in 2023, adding three goals and eight assists to the attack. But they'll be even wiser to watch how he does when playing for the Avalanche.
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