While most of the talk surrounding the Buffalo Sabres and the 2015 NHL Draft is related to the coveted second-overall pick that will likely see the team pick up BU forward Jack Eichel, that isn’t the only first-round pick the team has.
As it stands right now — assuming GM Tim Murray doesn’t trade it — the Buffalo Sabres also hold the 21st overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft.
That pick originally belonged to the New York Islanders and comes to Buffalo to fulfill the Thomas Vanek trade. The deal sent Vanek to New York, with Matt Moulson, a second-round pick in 2015 and a first-round pick in either 2014 or 2015. Since the Islanders decided to keep their 2014 pick, the Sabres now get this one instead.
If they do keep the pick, one player the Buffalo Sabres could pick up is defenseman Jeremy Roy, defenseman for the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix.
Puck Prose
Roy – not to be confused with the French bicyclist – just finished up his second season with the Phoenix.
He turned 18 just a few short days ago, and was ranked 21st overall by NHL Central Scouting in their final rankings. He moved up two spots from #23 in the midterm rankings.
A Richelieu, Quebec native, Roy began his QMJHL career with Sherbrooke in 2013. His rookie season, he scored 44 points, including 30 assists, in 64 games.
This season, he returned to Sherbrooke, where he put up 43 points in just 46 games, averaging nearly a point-per-game.
His 38 assists were third-most on the team, behind only rookie Kay Schweri (56) and Daniel Audette (44), both of whom played more games than Roy. In the QMJHL as a whole, he ranked eighth in assists among defensemen and 10th in defensive scoring league-wide overall.
Roy’s 43 points were overall sixth-most on the Phoenix, with Audette (73) leading the way. He also registered five points (1-4) in six playoff games.
Prior to joining the Phoenix, Roy played for Collège Antoine-Girouard Gaulois from 2011 until 2013. He has also represented Canada Quebec at the U17 (2014, captain) and at the U18s. He had three assists in five games at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Despite his young age, Roy has already received numerous honors, including a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka; a U18 WJC bronze medal, and a QMJHL Gold Cup Silver Medal.
In 2013, he was named QMAAA’s Best Hockey Student, earning Top Defenseman honors. He had the most points by a defenseman (54), most assists (42) and was named to the First All-Star Team.
After his first season in the QMJHL, Roy was named to the league’s all-rookie team and earned the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year. He also had the Most Points by a Defenseman (5) at the U17 WHC.
This year, Roy played in the CHL Top Prospects Game and was also named one of the top three players on Canada at the U18 WJC.
So, what are others saying about him?
Curtis Joe of Eliteprospects says Roy is a:
"“Gifted two-way defenceman that establishes his presence on the ice through playing authoritative hockey, with and without the puck. His absolute and total awareness of other players’ positions on the ice is a testament to his incredible knowledge of the game. Roy possesses the intangibles of maturity and character that can’t be taught, as well as the individual skill that turns heads every time he is on the ice. All-in-all, a highly intelligent defenceman that plays high-percentage hockey and is a catalyst for positive plays in all three zones.”"
A profile from The Hockey Writers says that skating is his biggest asset, calling Roy:
"“The best QMJHL defender available in this year’s draft bar none. Instinctually, he’s head and shoulders above the rest. He does his best work in the offensive zone where he’s quick, agile, and makes smart plays to contain pressure against the opposition. He runs the powerplay like an experienced veteran.”"
Two questions remain here.
The first: will Roy still be available when the Sabres pick at 21? Many have him going between 11 and 18, possibly even as early as ninth overall, so he may be long gone by the time Buffalo steps up to the plate again.
The second question is: do the Sabres need more prospect defensemen? With guys like Zadorov, Ristolainen, Pysyk and co. down the line, there’s a good heap of blueliners at the NHL/AHL cusp…. but adding Roy could add depth, as he can continue to grow in the QMJHL for a few more years and then eventually make his way up.
There are many players the Buffalo Sabres could pick with that 21st overall selection come June, and Roy is just one of the options.
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