Matt Roy To Serve As Capitals Alternate Captain On The Road: ‘Guys Really Respect Him A Lot’
The Washington Capitals will have defenseman Matt Roy wear an alternate captain’s “A” on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, a role head coach Spencer Carbery says Roy has earned as the team looks to fill the leadership void left by John Carlson.
Matt Roy Named Alternate Captain For Philadelphia Game
Carbery confirmed that Roy will serve as an alternate captain beginning with the road game in Philadelphia. The move continues a pattern of rotating players into leadership roles on the road; Dylan Strome wore the “A” in prior games, and Roy will be given a turn in Philadelphia.
Coach Cites Leadership By Example
Carbery described Roy as “growing into a leadership role” and noted where Roy is in his career and his second season with the team as reasons the coach believes he can step up. “He’s not all of a sudden going to be John Carlson and be this vocal guy that’s the life of the party, but he has a lot to offer when it comes to leadership, ” Carbery said. “Guys really respect him a lot with how he plays, how he leads by example. I think giving him that opportunity, he deserves it. “
Recent Milestones, Role And Usage
Roy played his 500th career NHL game earlier in the week and has been a fixture on the Capitals’ top-4 since signing a six-year deal to join the team in the summer of 2024. Through 62 games this season he has recorded 15 points (1 goal, 14 assists) and holds a plus/minus rating of plus-13. He is trusted in a shutdown role, is a versatile right-hand shot and has been relied upon heavily in ice time — averaging 20: 43 per game, now second on the team after John Carlson’s departure trade to the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline. Roy has previously served as an alternate captain once, when he wore the letter for Team USA at the 2021 World Championship.
Carbery emphasized that Roy’s leadership is more about presence and example than vocalizing demands in the room, and that those traits make him an easy choice to wear the “A” on the road while the Capitals adjust following Carlson’s move.
