Report: Derek Roy unlikely to be back with Oilers

[The Black Panther]

Report: Derek Roy unlikely to be back with Oilers

By: Jared Clinton on June 9, 2015 (Andy Devlin/Getty Images)
(Andy Devlin/Getty Images)


No matter how well Derek Roy and Nail Yakupov were clicking, it appears it wasn’t enough to land the veteran center another season in Edmonton.
According to a report from the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson, the Oilers will not be bringing back the Roy for the 2015-16 campaign. With Edmonton’s current depth down the middle, which is set to include Connor McDavid following the June draft, there doesn’t appear to be any room left for Roy, Matheson reported, which means the pivot will likely head for unrestricted free agency on July 1.
After signing with the Predators last off-season, Roy had stumbled out of the gates and registered a mere one goal and 10 points through 26 games, far from the production Nashville was hoping to get out of him. After averaging the lowest ice time of his career with the Predators, Roy was placed on waivers and, the following day, traded to the Oilers in exchange for Marc Arcobello.


What was a fairly simple, low-risk trade at the time actually ended up becoming quite a move for the Oilers as Roy found chemisty with Yakupov, who had struggled all season, almost immediately.
Over his time in Edmonton, Roy scored 11 goals and 22 points, while Yakupov went from scoring four goals and eight points before Roy’s arrival to 10 goals and 25 points after the Oilers landed the center from Nashville.
One of the more interesting things to note is that Todd Nelson was reportedly asked by Yakupov not to split up he and Roy. The pair finding the score sheet helped Yakupov gain some confidence, which some believed would be enough to land the 32-year-old Roy another deal in Edmonton.
Roy’s 2014-15 contract was a cap-friendly one-year, $1 million deal which he signed with the Predators, so whoever wants to land Roy this off-season will likely be getting a pretty nice deal for a depth center with some playoff experience. He’s not an especially sound possession player, but offensively, Roy has shown that he continues to have the playmaking ability that made him a star with the Buffalo Sabres.
Roy’s last great season came in 2007-08, when he scored 32 goals and 81 points in 78 games for the Sabres. Since leaving Buffalo, the team which drafted him, in 2012-13, Roy’s best campaign came in 2013-14 with St. Louis. As a Blue, Roy notched nine goals and 37 points.


By: Jared Clinton on June 9, 2015 (Andy Devlin/Getty Images)
(Andy Devlin/Getty Images)


No matter how well Derek Roy and Nail Yakupov were clicking, it appears it wasn’t enough to land the veteran center another season in Edmonton.
According to a report from the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson, the Oilers will not be bringing back the Roy for the 2015-16 campaign. With Edmonton’s current depth down the middle, which is set to include Connor McDavid following the June draft, there doesn’t appear to be any room left for Roy, Matheson reported, which means the pivot will likely head for unrestricted free agency on July 1.
After signing with the Predators last off-season, Roy had stumbled out of the gates and registered a mere one goal and 10 points through 26 games, far from the production Nashville was hoping to get out of him. After averaging the lowest ice time of his career with the Predators, Roy was placed on waivers and, the following day, traded to the Oilers in exchange for Marc Arcobello.


What was a fairly simple, low-risk trade at the time actually ended up becoming quite a move for the Oilers as Roy found chemisty with Yakupov, who had struggled all season, almost immediately.
Over his time in Edmonton, Roy scored 11 goals and 22 points, while Yakupov went from scoring four goals and eight points before Roy’s arrival to 10 goals and 25 points after the Oilers landed the center from Nashville.
One of the more interesting things to note is that Todd Nelson was reportedly asked by Yakupov not to split up he and Roy. The pair finding the score sheet helped Yakupov gain some confidence, which some believed would be enough to land the 32-year-old Roy another deal in Edmonton.
Roy’s 2014-15 contract was a cap-friendly one-year, $1 million deal which he signed with the Predators, so whoever wants to land Roy this off-season will likely be getting a pretty nice deal for a depth center with some playoff experience. He’s not an especially sound possession player, but offensively, Roy has shown that he continues to have the playmaking ability that made him a star with the Buffalo Sabres.
Roy’s last great season came in 2007-08, when he scored 32 goals and 81 points in 78 games for the Sabres. Since leaving Buffalo, the team which drafted him, in 2012-13, Roy’s best campaign came in 2013-14 with St. Louis. As a Blue, Roy notched nine goals and 37 points.

[evans334]

Why don't you post the link to the article also?

This is how most writers and bloggers get revenue.

[lobo1969]

Makes we wonder, if the Oiler's didn't manage a top 2 pick and grab one of the 2 elite centers, if Roy had a decent chance of signing 1-2 year deal in Edmonton. How fortunes change!

[Axeman33]

Why don't you post the link to the article also?

This is how most writers and bloggers get revenue.

Yes indeed! Read count is important to these guys.

[hockeymanG23]

Makes we wonder, if the Oiler's didn't manage a top 2 pick and grab one of the 2 elite centers, if Roy had a decent chance of signing 1-2 year deal in Edmonton. How fortunes change!

Absolutely, without McD there would likely be a place for Roy in EDM for one season at least.

[The Comish]

Roy will land somewhere. He managed to find chemistry with Yakupov, proving that he isn't washed up quite yet. He'll sign somewhere for 2-3 years for quite a bit more than the $1M he played for last year ($2.5-3M/year? Just a guess).

[ericdaoust]

I heard the Oilers have a replacement in mind at C.

[The Comish]

I heard the Oilers have a replacement in mind at C.

Yeah, but will he find the same chemistry with Yak!? Inquiring minds want to know!?

[JagrBomb]

i remember several years ago when derek roy was actually good i was watching an episode of Cribs (or something similar) and they showed his house and his cottage or something.

this has nothing to do with this thread, i just thought i'd share he has a nice house.

[ericdaoust]

Yeah, but will he find the same chemistry with Yak!? Inquiring minds want to know!?

He'll have to search far and wide for a team with an underachieving young Russian that is quickly becoming irrelevant. So, back to Buffalo!

[havanablast21]

Roy will land somewhere. He managed to find chemistry with Yakupov, proving that he isn't washed up quite yet. He'll sign somewhere for 2-3 years for quite a bit more than the $1M he played for last year ($2.5-3M/year? Just a guess).

Welcome to Toronto's bottom 6 Mr. Roy.

[The Bottlenecker]

Welcome to Toronto's bottom 6 Mr. Roy.

Roy will come in to pick up where David Booth left off...yay!

[Magicstew]

Devils to get to cap floor and bring down avg age.

[Zorro]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, Derek Roy or Connor McDavid??

[The Black Panther]

Why don't you post the link to the article also?

This is how most writers and bloggers get revenue.

You are indeed right I will remember that in the future.