Each day from now until July 1, the day free agency begins, Tom Dougherty and Tim Riday will profile some of the NHL's top impending free agents and project their likelihood of signing with the Flyers.
Derek Roy, center
Age: 32
Height: 5-9
Weight: 184
Last team: Edmonton Oilers
2014-15 cap hit: $1 million
Scouting report
Known for his tremendous vision and impeccable work ethic, Roy has proved to be a quality player in the NHL. Though his production has declined over the past few years, the diminutive center still possesses above average playmaking ability and an incredibly high hockey IQ. Injuries have been a major crutch throughout his career, however.
Roy, a four-time 20-goal scorer, was selected in the second round (32nd overall) by the Sabres at the 2001 NHL draft. He spent parts of eight seasons with Buffalo, recording his best campaign in 2007-08, when he scored 32 goals and assisted 49 more in 78 games.
Approaching the last year of his contract with the Sabres, Roy was traded to Dallas for Steve Ott and Adam Pardy on July 2, 2012. Since then, Roy has bounced around the NHL quite a bit.
After a very brief stint with the Stars, Roy was shipped to Vancouver in 2013 and the Canucks elected to let him enter free agency at the conclusion of the season. He went on to sign a one-year deal with the St. Louis Blues for the 2013-14 campaign but didn't fit well in Ken Hitchcock's system.
Last summer, Roy joined Nashville on a one-year contract. He appeared in just 26 games for the Predators before being dealt to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 29, 2014.
NHL
In all, Roy has played 738 career NHL games, posting 189 goals and 524 points.
Dougherty's projection
As I've been saying the last week or so, the Flyers desperately need wingers. And with that, they desperately need to avoid bringing more centers into the organization.
Roy is a very skilled player. If the Flyers needed a center, he'd be just the kind of guy they should target. He'd come at a team-friendly contract, as he hasn't been able to put up similar numbers he did while he was with the Sabres. He's the kind of skill the Flyers need to add. But the problem is — and it's a huge one — he plays center.
The Flyers should stay away from Roy — run away from him.
Riday's projection
I've always liked Roy's game. He's a skilled guy and has a knack for making his linemates around him look much better than they actually are. Offense just comes natural to the deceptively quick pivot.
But since leaving Buffalo, Roy has had some trouble trying to find a system he can thrive in. He's played for six teams since the start of the 2011-12. That's a bit concerning.
He is coming off an extremely cap-friendly contract, however. He made $1 million last season and seemed to have a bit of a resurgence once he joined the Oilers. He tallied 11 goals and 11 assists in 46 games for a lousy Edmonton club, so he can still produce.
Another reason the Flyers could target Roy: The shootout. The veteran has 14 career goals in the skills competition — seven game winners — and has a 29.8 percent success rate. Those aren't eye-popping numbers, but we've all seen how the current crop of Flyers perform in the shootout. How much worse can it really get?
The problem here is the Flyers are crowded at the middle of the ice. Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are locks to play center next year. Brayden Schenn, R.J. Umberger and Vinny Lecavalier, all natural centers, have been forced to play the wings over the past few seasons. Then there are youngsters Scott Laughton and Nick Cousins hoping to soon become everyday NHLers.
There's simply no room for another center right now, unless GM Ron Hextall makes some roster moves. Roy would add some much-needed offensive ability to the Flyers' lineup, but I doubt he'll be high on the team's offseason wish list.
