Golden Knights Forward Ready To Step Up Without Jack Eichel

Nicolas Roy steps into second line in Eichel’s place.

Nicolas Roy will play alongside Jonathan Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev, replacing Jack Eichel against the Calgary Flames tonight.

It’s a big step for Roy. He has seen playing time increase with the injury to William Karlsson – a number sure to increase now with Eichel out.

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy has said multiple times that he wants players to be the best versions of themselves instead of trying to replace their direct replacement.

Cassidy echoed those words when describing Roy’s fit with Marchessualt and Barbashev.

“This allows [Roy] to kind of spread his wings offensively,” Cassidy said. “He’s good down low. His offensive game is more down low. He can finish down there. I wouldn’t call him a driver through the neutral zone like ‘Karly,’ and Jack and [Chandler Stephenson]. Just has to work with his forwards a little more to get through there. He doesn’t have that pace that they do to separate, but maybe the more he plays that type of game that will grow a little bit.”

Roy doesn’t expect to be the playmaker that Eichel is on that line, but rather he wants to just play his game – big forecheck and get to the net front.

“We're not going to replace Jack. He's an elite player in this in this league,” Roy said. “I'm just trying to bring my game. I'll try to not try to change it. Win some puck battles. Go net front. Get the puck to these guys, who are gonna make some good plays. And play pretty good defensively as well.”

The Golden Knights are mired in a little bit of a slump. With offense being difficult to come by, Roy suggest they get to the net front more.

“Traffic's probably key. I mean, if you put more traffic in front of the goalie’s eyes, there's more pucks that are gonna go in,” Roy said. “Every team goes through it. It's 82 games right? So there's always gonna be a stretch where it’s gonna be a little bit tougher. But it's to us to, like I said, to put more traffic in front and more pucks to net. Play better that way.”

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