#15 Prospect: Olivier Roy

Winter 2009: #19
Summer 2010: #16

Winter 2010: #15

It doesn't take long to move up the all-time GP list of Oiler drafts if you're a goalie. Jeff Deslauriers is 4th overall, Devan Dubnyk 6th.

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There isn't much pre-draft verbal, but it is very entertaining:

• Redline report: "Roy has great athleticism and flexibility and is a tough-minded competitor who never gives up on a play. While he's fairly advanced technique-wise, the problem for this typical butterfly netminder is his penchant for constantly going down to the ice too early and swimming around the crease. He gets by with that style in the junior ranks, but at only 5-11 and 163 pounds, he's too small to cover the corners, and we suspect that pro shooters will pick him apart up high and take advantage of his habit of overcommitting."
• NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau: “He catches your attention. He's steady and he plays well all the time.”
• Cape Breton goaltending coach Scott Gouthro: “Olivier Roy has extremely quick reflexes and when he challenges is extremely hard to beat. He continues to work on his puckhandling which is a key tool for the next level. He is a warrior, his competitive nature and desire to win is exceptional.”

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Olivier Roy has performed very well in his league (QMJHL). Here are his numbers through is junior career:

• 08-09: 54gp, 3.04 .906
• 09-10: 54gp, 2.62 .908 (SP--5th in Q)
• 10-11: 20gp, 3.00 .904 (SP--6th in Q)

A lot has been made about Roy's struggles this season, but I'm not certain we can make too much of it. The QMJHL league is slightly different than the WHL (where there are 14 goalies north of his SP) and the young Q goalie has been an upper echelon G in his league for awhile now (played a lot at 16).
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Olivier Roy has been invited to Canada's World junior camp and has a good chance to make the team. Roy: “I think this year is going to be a little bit different than going to camp in the past. Being there last year is going to help me out a bit. I know how things work there, what they want and what they expect from me. I think that will be an advantage.”

He did not have a strong showing against the Russians in their CHL series, and he has slipped in the last little while. However, he's going to be given the opportunity.
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Roy showed well and lasted a little longer at Oilers training camp this fall.

• Oilers goalie coach Frederic Chabot: "He’s shown a lot of maturity in the last year. He’s just six feet tall so he needs to very, very precise as to how he positions himself in the net. But he’s one of those goalies who looks bigger in the net. He stands tall. He does a good job challenging guys.”

Roy hung around longer than one pro goalie (Bryan Pitton) and the organization told him to keep working hard and that they were pleased with his progress. Goalie development is very slow, but the young man seems on track.
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The last Q goalie we tracked as a prospect was Jeff Deslauriers. He was wildly inconsistent and it was always difficult to get a read on him as a prospect. Still is, matter of fact. Anyway, JDD's SP's during his three junior seasons were .900, 888 and .916. I know it's across era's, but this fellow Roy seems to me consistent than the last goalie hope from the Q.
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