Golden Knights re-sign restricted free agent center
The Golden Knights’ contracts keep rolling in.
The team signed center Nicolas Roy to a five-year extension with an average annual value of $3 million Monday, three days after bringing back right wing Keegan Kolesar on a three-year deal with an average annual value of $1.4 million.
“So excited to be back in Vegas!!!” Roy said on his verified Instagram account.
Roy and Kolesar were two of the Knights’ last four restricted free agents. The only ones still unsigned are defenseman Nic Hague and center Jake Leschyshyn.
Roy, 25, has grown into a key member of the team in his three seasons with the Knights. He was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in an offseason trade June 27, 2019, for center Erik Haula. Roy played in 28 games that season as a rookie but was a regular by the playoffs, appearing in all 20 games in the bubble.
His role grew in 2021 and was expanded even more last season. Roy appeared in 78 games primarily in the bottom six while notching a career-high 15 goals, 24 assists and 39 points. He helped on both special-teams units, including averaging the fourth-most ice time among forwards on the penalty kill.
“He’s really developed into a good player,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in July.
Roy’s new deal keeps him under contract until 2027. The only player on the Knights’ books longer is defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who signed a six-year extension Oct. 28.
The team has approximately $81.2 million committed to 12 forwards, six defensemen and three goaltenders. That gives the Knights about $1.3 million in spending power left before hitting the salary cap’s $82.5 million upper limit.
They could add more if center Nolan Patrick, who is out indefinitely and carries a $1.2 million cap hit, begins the year on long-term injured reserve. Goaltenders Robin Lehner ($5 million) and Laurent Brossoit ($2.325 million) are also recovering from offseason surgeries, and it’s unclear whether they will be ready to start the season.
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.
