When Matt Roy became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2024, he made a bold move and signed with the Washington Capitals to a six-year, $34.5 million contract. He spent his first six NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, uprooting his career from sunny California to the suburbs of D.C. With a record of 5 goals and 25 points in 81 games of the 2023-24 season, the defenseman was a consistent presence on a team that struggled defensively.
While his offensive numbers may not be eye-catching, the six-year contract signifies a significant investment by the Capitals and their belief in the Michigan native. In the current season of 2024-25, Roy has produced 2 goals and 12 points in 41 games. Considering he isn’t known for his stats; he brings a different dimension to the team in his positive influence in the locker room and on the bench.
In the Jan. 30th game against the Ottawa Senators, where the Caps fell 5-4 in (OT) overtime, Roy was credited with an assist to Connor McMichael’s goal, a crucial play that helped the team earn a point. The play demonstrated his offensive awareness and ability to make timely passes from the blue line.
Matt Roy was credited with the secondary assist on McMichael’s goal, his 10th assist of the season. Seven of Roy’s 10 assists have been primaries.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) January 31, 2025
According to Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan who noted, “Matt is a steady right-handed defenseman who plays important minutes against the opposition’s top players and is extremely responsible in his own end. We feel his addition will help strengthen our blueline for the next several years.” Alongside with Roy, Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded to the Caps from Los Angeles in a shocking move. The addition of both ex-Kings Roy and Dubois addresses key areas of need for the Capitals and has been a valuable addition for the organization.
The Los Angeles Kings have currently been experiencing a losing streak as coach Jim Hiller has implemented a lineup change to the team, a system Dubois didn’t particularly fit in with. While speculation has been floating around of potential trades between a Canadian market and a U.S. market team, such a trade could significantly impact the playoff race.
Given the Capitals’ current standings, the push for the playoffs is what’s on everyone’s mind and as for the Kings, their situation is quite different. While there is time to secure a playoff spot, they can’t afford many more losses as they need a strong defense-core, minimal penalties, and more frequent goals. Standing at 12th spot with 58 points in the league as of this writing, with the addition of Dubois and Roy to the east, the Caps have risen from barely securing a spot in the playoffs last season to standing in second with 74 points.
Perhaps a trade before the deadline in March will give the Kings a much-needed confident boost and put them back on track for a successful season. Meanwhile, Roy is showing what the Kings are missing as they navigate their current challenges. Roy’s performance serves as a reminder of the type of player the Kings need to bolster their blue line.
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