Elite NHL Coach Bruce Cassidy Prepares Maple Leafs Fans for What They're Getting in Nicolas Roy

As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for the upcoming NHL season, there are still key decisions to be made regarding the opening night roster, with one of the biggest being who will anchor the team's third line at center.

The early answer to that question is Nicolas Roy, who was recently acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Mitch Marner.

Roy's former head coach in Vegas, Bruce Cassidy, spoke highly of the 6-foot-4 pivot during an appearance on the Leafs Morning Take podcast, as shared by The Leafs Nation on X:

Cassidy also spoke on Roy' versatility as a player:

Roy is a versatile forward who can play in all situations, as was highlighted by Cassidy during his podcast appearance. He tallied 15 goals and 31 points in 71 games last season --impressive production given his limited fourth-line role with the Golden Knights.

One player the Maple Leafs had previously hoped would fill that third-line center role was Scott Laughton, who was acquired for a sizable return at last season's trade deadline from the Philadelphia Flyers. However, Laughton appeared to be better suited as a strong fourth-line center.

When training camp kicks off in September, look for Roy to receive a good, long look at 3C in Toronto.

If Cassidy's words hold true, he'll be an impact player in the bottom six for the Leafs, and will also help to stabilize the penalty kill, with the added allure of being able to be a net-front presence on the team's 2nd PP unit.