Capitals' Matt Roy deems free agency 'good problem to have' before inking $34.5M contract

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Jul 29, 2024 05:34 GMT

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Matt Roy to a six-year, $34.5 million contract. Entering free agency for the first time was stressful for Roy, but he is happy with his decision to join the Capitals.

In a conversation on NHL Network with hosts Jamison Coyle and Mark Parris, Roy discussed his experience. When asked about free agency, Roy admitted it was stressful not knowing which team he would join or where to relocate his family.

"I mean, it was stressful." Roy said, "You know, you don't really know what team you're going to be on if you're going back to LA or where you're going to put your family. But at the end of the day, it was a good problem to have and we're really happy with how ended up."

When asked about joining the Capitals and having familiar faces like Pierre-Luc Dubois in the locker room, Matt Roy said it made his decision easier.

"Yeah, for sure. It kind of showed me that the team wanted to win and wanted to move in the right direction." Roy said, "So that was a big part of the decision for me and I'm hoping I can jump in and help the team out as best I can."

Roy was also excited about playing alongside Alex Ovechkin, who is close to breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record. He opened up on his family and friends being excited at the prospect of him being teammates with Ovechkin.

"It's pretty crazy." Roy said, "You know, all my friends and family, that's one of the first things they bring up with me when we talk about the capital. So I think it's exciting. It's something to look forward to and I know he's going to break it, so hopefully we can get him there quickly."

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan talks about signing Matt Roy

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan praised Matt Roy and said his addition will make the team's blue line strong. So, both Caps and Roy have benefitted form this deal. Roy has found a home for the long-term and Caps have found the defenceman they were looking for.

"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," MacLellan said. "We feel his addition will help strengthen our blueline for the next several years."

Last season, Matt Roy recorded 25 points in 81 games with the Los Angeles Kings. He led the Kings in shorthanded ice time per game and ranked seventh in the NHL for blocked shots. Over his career, Roy has played 369 NHL games, scoring 106 points.