DENVER (AP) 鈥� Nicolas Roy still has his place in Las Vegas. He still has plenty of friends . He still has those cherished memories, too, from helping them win a Stanley Cup title three years ago.
Roy, who was traded from Vegas to Toronto last summer as part of , landed in Colorado two months ago 鈥� through another deal 鈥� and is now facing his former team.
At stake, a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. So, yeah, those friendships developed over six seasons in Vegas are on pause.
鈥淛ust how it goes,鈥� Roy said as the Avalanche get set to host Vegas in Game 1 of the Western Conference final on Wednesday. “The excitement鈥檚 already pretty high.鈥�
Off to Toronto
Roy was caught off guard by the deal that sent him to Toronto and brought Marner to Vegas. Marner has been a big contributor for the Golden Knights in the playoffs, with a team-leading 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) through playoff series wins over Utah and Anaheim.
鈥淎s a player, you expect (a trade like this) more at the deadline than right there in the middle of the summer,鈥� said Roy, who’s renting out his Vegas place to a member of the Golden Knights. 鈥淏ut again, you never know. It鈥檚 part of the business. It can happen at any given day. I just got surprised a little by it.鈥�
Roy played in 59 games for the Maple Leafs with five goals and 15 assists, before going on the move again. The Avalanche picked him up on March 5 for draft picks.
It hasn’t taken long for Roy to settle in with Colorado. He’s been a steady contributor through the opening two rounds of the playoffs, with three goals and three assists.
鈥淎ll the other guys here made it so easy from the first day,鈥� the 29-year-old Roy said. 鈥淭he coaches did a good job with me, of letting me know how to play the system. The guys talk to me a lot on the ice as well.鈥�
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar knew what they were getting in Roy 鈥� a skilled veteran player with plenty of poise. Bednar and the staff studied film of Roy from his Vegas days and his stint in Toronto, just to brush up on his skillset. Roy had three goals and eight assists when the Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
鈥淲e tried to figure out how we would deploy him, and could we get him back to playing as well or better than he did in Vegas. Because he was a highly effective player for them,鈥� Bednar said. “The one thing that I鈥檝e been impressed with is his patience with the puck. He never throws the puck away. … He’s got a lot of patience for a guy with the production that he has.鈥�
Roy’s already come up big for the Avalanche, OT winner in Game 2 during a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings.
鈥淚鈥檓 in a great situation right now,鈥� said Roy, a fourth-round pick by Carolina in 2015 who played in seven games over two seasons with the Hurricanes before being traded to Vegas in 2019. 鈥淛ust trying to keep doing my best.鈥�
Helpful hints
Need a scouting report on the Golden Knights? Roy’s your forward to ask.
Sure, the Vegas coach may be different 鈥� Bruce Cassidy 鈥� but the system is virtually the same. Roy’s still friends with everyone from captain Mark Stone to Jack Eichel to linemate Keegan Kolesar.
鈥淥bviously, I know their system and I know a little bit their player tendencies, as they know mine,” Roy said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a big advantage. The game is just so fast, you don鈥檛 want to overthink, you just want to play your game.鈥�
He recalled the time his Vegas team rallied to beat the Avalanche in the second round of the 2021 playoffs. The Golden Knights trailed 2-0 in the series before winning four straight to advance.
This time, he’s on the other bench.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be some really good hockey,鈥� Roy said. “It鈥檚 going to be a good series.鈥�
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