On a professional tryout with the Washington Capitals, Derek Roy isn’t even listed on the team’s active roster, reserved for players under contract. He could be released at any time without financial consequence, making Kettler Capitals Iceplex just another brief stop in his 12th NHL season.
Though his future with Washington is uncertain, Roy has chosen to be of the moment, which is being an invested member of the team. That might mean speaking up when he thinks a player should have done something differently or if he has advice to offer.
The 32-year-old center is vying for a bottom-six role, his main competition being 21-year-old Chandler Stephenson, who mostly centered a checking-line in Hershey last season.