How the Golden Knights Benefit From the Nicolas Roy Contract Extension

The Las Vegas Golden Knights recently signed Nicolas Roy to a two-year contract extension worth an AAV of $750,000. Roy came from the Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliate team, the Charlotte Checkers, this past offseason in exchange for Erik Haula and a 2021 conditional fifth-round pick. The Golden Knights now receive that 2021 fifth-round pick since the Hurricanes traded Haula to the Florida Panthers during the NHL Trade Deadline. How does the Golden Knights benefit from both this trade and contract extension? It benefits them in a big way.

THE TRADE

Golden Knights acquire Nicolas Roy from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Erik Haula and a conditional 2021 5th round pick. Image courtesy: Vegas Golden Knights

The move to trade Haula was a difficult one for management to do especially with the type of season he had during the team’s inaugural season. But, he had a knee injury at the beginning of the 2018-19 season that forced him to sit out the rest of the year. That forced management’s hand to make this trade happen. The Golden Knights also needed to get under the salary cap of $81.5 million before the 2019-20 season.

THE BENEFITS

Roy brings a lot to the table even though he was considered a prospect coming to Vegas from an AHL team. Roy is a bigger forward than Haula was which gives the Golden Knights more size on the ice. He’s also one of the more versatile forwards Vegas has had in just their three years of existence even though he’s only 23 years old. Vegas can place Roy on any line as a centerman and that line would be just as effective as the opponent’s top six lines.

ROY’S FUTURE

Two more years of plays like this 😍🚨👑 pic.twitter.com/JKc0oJ4sG5

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 22, 2020

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Roy has a lot of upside to his game, but he’s still young and still has a lot to learn about the game. Extending Roy’s contract shows Vegas’ confidence in him. This could also mean that he could sign a longer contract once 2022 comes around. That would be up to Roy’s performance in the next coming season or two depending on what the NHL plans on doing with this 2019-20 season. Before the season got canceled, Roy recorded 10 points in 26 games with the Golden Knights this season.

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