Derek Roy (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

Center/#11

May 4, 1983 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

5’9″/184

GP: 80

G: 17

A: 27

P: 44

+/- :  -7

Contract Status: 1 year deal for $4 million

On July 2nd, the day after the free agency frenzy, the Dallas Stars traded fan favorite Steve Ott and defensemen Adam Pardy for center Derek Roy, who will take the spot of departed center, Mike Ribeiro who was traded to the Washington Capitals. A few weeks later after the trade, the Stars learned that Roy needed surgery for a posterior labrum on his shoulder and he will be out until November. The situation with trading Roy for Ott showed confidence of the front office and a risky trade but maybe after Roy comes back from surgery, he will prove to the NHL that he can be that second line center, the Stars have been looking for. Derek Roy did tell the media that he was willing to play with the shoulder injury but the Stars didn’t want to take a risk with him, making the injury worse. Here’s more on Roy talking about the shoulder injury via from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News:

Roy will likely be out until late November after he had surgery to tighten up a loose shoulder he had been playing through since last season. Roy had a very difficult season injury-wise, and he spoke with John Vogel of the Buffalo News in April as the Sabres were cleaning out their lockers. Here was his quote:

“Doc said it was going to take two years to get back to 100 percent. I had a tough stretch. I missed the exhibition games when I got injured (shoulder), and I got injured in July working out (a hamstring injury before last season), as well. Nobody knew about that one, but I took maybe a month off this summer. I pulled my hamstring in the summertime. That was tough working out. I took some time off and had to come in and do therapy every day on it. That was a tough stretch, then training camp came around and I got injured again (with the shoulder). Usually, I’m not injury prone at all, and it was tough to start the season off with those two injuries. I had a hard time going, and it’s still bothering me now to this day with both injuries. I’m going to take a month off and do absolutely nothing and try to rest and get back into shape and get ready for the season.”

But why trade for a center that was going to have shoulder surgery? When they traded for Roy, the Stars address their need with the speed and creative with the departed Ribeiro. Here’s Joe Nieuwendyk talking to the Dallas Stars website about acquiring Roy and why he came to the Stars:

“With Mike Ribeiro going out and Cody Eakin coming in with only 30 games of experience, it was a hole we needed to fill,” said Nieuwendyk. “Having the opportunity to acquire a player like Derek Roy, who is only 29-years-old and is a proven point producer in this league at a position that is very rare to find, it seemed like it was a really good fit for us.”

“I think a change of scenery will be welcomed by him,” said Nieuwendyk. “He’s been the guy there in Buffalo for quite some time and you go through a significant injury and it takes a little time to get back. Our scouts who watch him in the East felt his game was coming back late in the season, he was getting his speed back. He’s still a very gifted player. He sees the ice well, he makes his linemates better and another summer of training and he should be good to go.”

“He knew my needs, I knew his needs and eventually it just seemed to work out to the right fit. It’s not easy to accomplish,” Nieuwendyk said. “When you are talking about centerman of Derek Roy’s abilities, it has to be a good fit for both teams and I think both teams feel they are coming away happy.”

So if Nieuwendyk feels confident about the trade for Roy, then the rest of the Stars fans should. I am going to give Roy a chance to prove himself after he comes back from shoulder surgery. But for right now who will fill the spot for Roy, my guess will be Vernon Fiddler until Roy gets better or even better Cody Eakins. But for those who are wondering about Roy and what he can bring to the Dallas Stars then it’s time to check out those videos on Youtube highlighting one of the goals during the playoffs that he scored:

Derek Roy keeps Buffalo’s playoff hopes alive, scoring for the extra point in overtime.

And if you have twitter, follow Derek Roy at @Roy9ner  and give him a warm welcome to the Dallas Stars!