When the Montreal Canadiens announced their latest trade with the St. Louis Blues, fans immediately began dissecting every detail. On the surface, it was a straightforward swap: promising defenseman Logan Mailloux shipped out, and forward Zachary Bolduc brought in to bolster the lineup.

But beneath the headlines, there’s a story that few saw coming—a tale of missed opportunities, shifting expectations, and the quiet fallout from one young player’s struggles.

Joshua Roy, once hailed as a future cornerstone for the Habs, now finds himself at the center of a narrative that’s as surprising as it is sobering.

Was this trade really about filling a roster gap, or was it a direct response to Roy’s inability to seize the spotlight he seemed destined for?

How did his development—or lack thereof—shape the Canadiens’ strategy and force Kent Hughes to make a move that could alter the team’s trajectory?

As the dust settles and the spotlight shifts to training camp, questions linger: Has Joshua Roy truly been replaced? Could things have unfolded differently if he’d lived up to the hype?

The answers are more complex than they appear, and the implications could ripple through Montreal’s future for years to come.

Mar 18, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Joshua Roy (89) skates during the warmup period before the game against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

On July 1st, the Montreal Canadiens made a trade with the St. Louis Blues to bring forward Zachary Bolduc to town.

Logan Mailloux went the other way.

That said, as my colleague from Fanadiens rightly points out, it was essentially Joshua Roy who forced Kent Hughes to make this trade.

Zachary Bolduc was brought in to fill the role that Roy was never able to fulfill.

If Joshua Roy had become what we thought he would become two years ago, it’s likely that Bolduc wouldn’t be a Montreal Canadiens player today.

The disappointing development of Joshua Roy forced Kent Hughes to make the trade with the St. Louis Blues

“Now, at 22 years old, Roy no longer represents the top prospect we once saw in him, and in a way, the disappointment he represents has been replaced by Zachary Bolduc.” – DLC

Roy was supposed to become a top-6 winger capable of putting up 50 to 60 points, which is exactly what we’re seeing in Zachary Bolduc right now.

“The difference is that Bolduc seized his opportunity in the NHL and proved much more than Roy.” – DLC

This will truly be an interesting case to follow at the next training camp, but unfortunately, personally, I would be surprised to see Joshua Roy establish himself as a regular player for the Habs one day..

He seems to have missed his chance, and he seems to have outright been replaced by Zachary Bolduc.

Who knows? If Joshua Roy had developed well, maybe Logan Mailloux could have been useful to acquire a center like Mason McTavish, for example.