Nicolas Roy Bio
Nicolas Roy is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes, 96th overall, in the 2015 NHL entry draft, Roy developed into a reliable two-way forward through a productive junior career with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, cementing his reputation as a dependable centre capable of contributing in every situation.
Early Life and Background
Nicolas Roy was born on February 5, 1997, in Amos, Quebec, Canada, to parents Nick and Lisa Roy. Growing up in a hockey-oriented household in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, Roy was introduced to the sport at a young age and progressed through local youth programs, including minor hockey with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Bantam AA in the MMBAA during the 2010–11 season.
At 14, Roy began his Quebec midget AAA career with the Amos Forestiers. In his rookie season with the team, he appeared in 43 regular-season games and helped lead the squad to the QMAAA quarterfinals. His strong play earned him an invitation to the Allstate All-Canadians mentorship camp in 2012, and he later competed for Team Québec White at the QGC-16 in 2013. He also received the QMAAA’s Prospect Award, signaling his status as one of the province’s top young players.
Roy’s sister, Mélina Roy, is also an ice hockey player and competed for Team Quebec at the 2012 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, underscoring the family’s deep connection to the game.
Path to Professional Hockey
Roy was the unanimous first overall pick in the QMJHL draft. Despite being selected first overall by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at the 2013 QMJHL draft, he refused to play in the league unless his rights were traded to a Quebec-based team, in part because he wished to enroll in CEGEP locally. On September 6, 2013, the Screaming Eagles traded him to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in exchange for three first-round QMJHL draft picks.
In his rookie season with the Saguenéens, Roy was named an assistant captain and recorded 16 goals and 25 assists in 63 regular-season games. His sophomore campaign in 2014–15 brought selection to the CHL Top Prospects Game and new career highs across all major categories. Prior to the 2015 NHL draft, NHL Central Scouting ranked him 45th among North American skaters, and he was ultimately taken in the fourth round, 96th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Nicolas Roy Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Returning to the QMJHL for the 2015–16 season, Roy was named captain of the Saguenéens and led all QMJHL skaters in goals while recording a career-high 90 points in 63 games. He was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Hurricanes, finishing the year with their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
In 2016–17, Roy completed his major junior career with another First All-Star Team selection and won the Guy Carbonneau Trophy. He also became a finalist for the Marcel Robert Trophy as the QMJHL’s best student-athlete while studying at Cégep de Chicoutimi. He then attended Hurricanes training camp ahead of 2017–18, was reassigned to the Checkers, and recorded 37 points in 68 games to tie for eighth among AHL rookies. He made his NHL debut on April 7, 2018, in Carolina’s season finale, before helping the Checkers capture the 2019 Calder Cup with 15 points in 19 playoff games.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2019–2025)
On June 26, 2019, Roy was traded by the Hurricanes, along with a conditional 2021 fifth-round pick, to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Erik Haula. During the 2019–20 season, he frequently moved between the Golden Knights and their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. On October 27, 2019, he recorded his first career NHL goal, which stood as the game-winner, in a 5–2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. He signed a two-year contract extension worth $750,000 against the salary cap on April 22, 2020.
Roy continued to serve as a steady two-way presence for the Golden Knights and was part of the team’s Stanley Cup-winning roster in 2023. Across multiple seasons in Vegas, he developed into a trusted bottom-six centre and penalty-killing option, playing alongside French-speaking teammates such as Jonathan Marchessault early in his Knights tenure.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2025–Present)
On July 1, 2025, Roy was traded by Vegas to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal that sent right winger Mitch Marner to the Golden Knights. The move marked a fresh chapter for the veteran centre as he joined a contending roster north of the border. Roy brings Stanley Cup experience, faceoff reliability, and a defensive mindset to a Leafs lineup looking to compete deep into the spring.
Driving Style and Strengths
Roy is recognized as a defensively responsible centre with strong faceoff numbers, dependable penalty-killing instincts, and the versatility to play up and down the lineup. His blend of size and hockey IQ allows him to match up against top opposition, while his work along the boards and in traffic areas adds a physical element to his game. He has consistently been trusted by coaches to take important late-game draws and shutdown assignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Roy’s career include his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks in 2019, his role on the Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights roster in 2023, and his trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025. He also helped Canada claim silver at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, where he scored five points.
Nicolas Roy Career Highlights
Across the AHL, NHL, and international stage, Roy has built a résumé highlighted by team success and individual consistency. His major junior achievements with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens established him as one of the QMJHL’s premier players, while his professional trajectory has been defined by winning at every level.
QMJHL Highlights
Roy recorded 90 points in 63 games during the 2015–16 season, leading the QMJHL in goals and earning First All-Star Team honors. He repeated as a First All-Star Team selection in 2016–17, won the Guy Carbonneau Trophy, and was a finalist for the Marcel Robert Trophy. His career totals with the Saguenéens reflect his development into a complete two-way centre.
Other Wins and Performances
Roy won a gold medal with Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, claimed a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship, and earned a silver medal at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He added another silver at the 2022 IIHF World Championship with Canada’s senior team, scoring five points in the tournament.
Nicolas Roy Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Roy was raised in Amos, Quebec, by his parents Nick and Lisa Roy. His sister Mélina Roy is also an ice hockey player who represented Team Quebec at the 2012 National Women’s Under-18 Championship. The family’s deep ties to the sport played a formative role in his development as a player.
Personal Life
Born and raised in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec, Roy remains closely connected to his hometown of Amos, where he has returned during off-seasons to train. Details about his current marital status are not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Roy’s 2025 storyline was defined by his July 1 trade from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade deal. The move gave him a fresh opportunity on a contending Eastern Conference roster after several seasons in a defensive role with Vegas.
With Toronto, Roy is expected to slot into the bottom-six centre group, contributing on the penalty kill and in key faceoff situations. His Stanley Cup pedigree, won with the Golden Knights in 2023, adds post-season experience to a Leafs team with championship aspirations.
Heading into the season, Roy’s outlook centers on providing two-way reliability, leadership in shutdown situations, and a steady veteran presence as Toronto pushes for a deep playoff run.