Nicolas Roy officially joined the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 through a sign-and-trade deal involving Mitch Marner. Roy, who was in the third year of his five-year, $15 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, is now embracing the opportunity to compete in Toronto’s demanding hockey environment. The move signals a fresh chapter for the forward eager to contribute to a team with high championship aspirations.

Speaking about the change, Roy described adapting to a major market like Toronto as an exciting new challenge. He acknowledged the heightened expectations but views the pressure as part of the privilege of playing at this level and believes it will drive him to perform his best.

“Yeah, it’s going to be obviously a different challenge,” Roy said on Thursday, via the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast. “Really excited to play, like I said, for a Canadian team, a bigger market. Obviously, there’s going to be maybe a little bit of pressure, but I think that’s a privilege as a player.”

Roy, originally from Quebec, is familiar with hockey markets that come with intense attention. He explained that the pressure reflects high expectations, which motivates him to raise his game and deliver strong performances for the Leafs.

“When you have pressure, that means the expectations are high,” Roy said. “That’s when you want to play and that’s when you want to play your best hockey. So yeah, really excited to be joining the Leafs.”

The trade took Roy by surprise as he did not anticipate a move this offseason. Despite the unexpected timing, he expressed enthusiasm about joining a team poised for success and committed to winning.

“I wasn’t expecting to be traded this summer,” Roy said. “Came at a time, like I said, I wasn’t expecting, but really, really excited to be joining a team that’s trying to win right now. That’s the most important thing.”

Roy Views the Maple Leafs as a Stronger Contender This Season

Nicolas Roy arrives in Toronto as the Maple Leafs look to overcome recent playoff hurdles and improve their postseason performance. The team’s recent second-round loss to the Florida Panthers extended their streak of Game 7 defeats to seven since 2004. Moreover, the Leafs have not advanced to the conference final since 2002, fueling a sense of urgency within the organization.

Roy expressed confidence in the team’s progress, noting that Toronto is aiming to play a more physical and gritty style, particularly in the playoffs. He praised the team’s improvements and emphasized the determination to build on last season’s hard-fought series against Florida.

“I think they (Toronto) want to play with a little more grit, especially in the playoffs, more physicality” Roy said on Thursday, via the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast.

“I think they did a really good job this year, just watching it, compared to the last couple of years. I think they were the biggest challenge to Florida in seven games. So I think we’ll try to keep going that way.”

Before joining the Leafs, Roy spent six seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he played a key role in the team’s 2023 Stanley Cup victory. In the previous season, he contributed 15 goals and 16 assists across 71 games, while adding four points in 11 playoff appearances, highlighting his ability to perform in crucial moments.

Joining Toronto through the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade deal not only offers Roy a new platform to leverage his skills but also places him within a motivated roster that aims to break through longstanding playoff barriers. His experience and passion will be pivotal as the Maple Leafs pursue deeper playoff success in the upcoming seasons.