Joshua Roy, once again, finds himself at the heart of the turmoil.
Not for his performances on the ice, which, remember, led to his being sent to Laval even though his position was practically assured, but for his actions off the ice.
Why has Roy disappointed everyone again, including the organization, those close to him and especially himself?
The answer has nothing to do with ice cream.
Even if the CH will never admit it, the problem is rooted behind the scenes of a rough nightlife and problematic behavior off the ice.
BPM Sports host Max Lalonde was scathing during his exchange with Tony Marinaro. He said one of the biggest obstacles to Roy’s career was his choices outside of hockey.
Here’s another member of the media talking about his off-ice attitude, without going into detail.
Another comment finds an echo in the incessant murmurs on the North Shore of Montreal, where Roy has developed the bad habit of getting lost in festive evenings.
Roy now lives in Alexis Lafrenière’s house, alone, without a roommate, and without restrictions on his desire to go out.
A situation which increasingly worries the management of the Canadian. Sources claim that Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes sent “spies” to take a closer look at the young prodigy’s behavior.
What they found was not flattering. Roy frequents bars with disconcerting regularity, unable to calm his nocturnal urges, even in the middle of training camp.
The matter took an embarrassing turn last season when Roy, expected to be fighting for a place in the team, was seen in an evident state of fatigue, visibly suffering from the excesses of the previous day.
This behavior caused panic among coaches and management, causing a series of harsh decisions towards him.
This explains why, after an exceptional training camp, Roy was relegated to Laval and why his recall took so long.
So imagine today, when Roy had a horrible training camp.
Testimonies from his former teammates in Sherbrooke suggest that this situation is not new.
“Joshua could go out all night, and be on fire the next day,” says a former comrade.
But junior and the NHL are two very different worlds. What worked in the QMJHL no longer works here, where the physical and mental demands are at another level.
The rumors surrounding Roy are not new. Upon his arrival in Montreal, comments from Renaud Lavoie and Martin McGuire pointed out his lack of maturity.
Lavoie even said that Roy had to grow up off the ice to hope to establish himself in the big league. But despite these warnings, Roy seems unable to get rid of his old demons.
While Martin St-Louis has decided to send him to Laval, a clear message is sent: Roy must choose. Either he fully concentrates on his career, or he will continue to be the victim of his own excesses.
Because while his talent is beyond doubt, it will not be enough to save him from a nightlife that could well cost him his place in the NHL.
Talent is no longer a match for destructive lifestyle habits. Joshua Roy is at a turning point in his career.
If he doesn’t realize the impact of his decisions off the ice, he risks becoming the perfect example of the player who had everything to succeed, but who ruined it all for a few nights too many.
Martin St-Louis’ message is merciless: it’s time to grow up, Joshua, or watch your career collapse.
Roy displayed an obvious lack of seriousness during practices, as if he took his position in the NHL as a foregone conclusion.
This lack of rigor, work ethic and professionalism was a wake-up call for Martin St-Louis, who never hesitated to punish this type of attitude.
One of the most notable incidents that pushed the coach to send him to Laval occurred during a video session where Roy was allegedly distracted and unfocused, to the point that even his teammates noticed.
This behavior prompted several members of the coaching staff to question his true commitment to the team.
The fact that he was seen in several well-known bars on the North Shore only accentuated these doubts.
Roy seems to rely on his image as a “force of nature”, capable of performing after party evenings, as he did in Sherbrooke.
But this myth is crumbling. Unlike the junior level, where recovery is much easier, the NHL requires extreme rigor, both physically and mentally.
Observers are beginning to wonder if Roy underestimates this factor, believing that his natural talent will be enough to compensate for his olé olé life.
This situation risks becoming a real fracture point for Joshua Roy’s future in the NHL if he does not wake up and understand that his career is on the line.
His demons outside the ice are no longer just rumors, but a very real obstacle to his development.
Joshua Roy must wake up, before it’s too late. And to wake up, you have to go to bed first.
