Nicolas Roy is set to take the ice for the first time as a Toronto Maple Leaf on Saturday, as preseason action continues. The Quebec native will make his debut in front of a Montreal crowd as the Leafs take on the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Through training camp, Roy has been practicing next to fellow big guy and new-add Dakota Joshua. At practice Saturday, Matias Maccelli skated alongside them, bringing a balance of skill and size to the line of fresh faces.

Speaking after practice, Roy shared his thoughts on how the line will work against the Canadiens Saturday night.

“Practice went well, so I guess we’re gonna see tonight,” he said. “Joshua is a big guy, plays a little bit like me. We like to go on the forecheck, we like to protect pucks, be hard to play against. And obviously you saw Maccelli in preseason, in past years, he’s making plays all over, great vision. Yeah, looking forward to it.”

Roy and Joshua, dealt to the Leafs this summer from the Vegas Golden Knights and the Vancouver Canucks, respectively, are two key depth pieces the Leafs brought in to ice a tougher, more physical bottom six. Roy stands at 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, while Joshua boasts a 6-foot-3, 218-pound stature. Berube has already been vocal about wanting the two of them on the third line with a more skilled player to balance things out. Roy and Joshua can contribute offensively when needed, but with a player like Maccelli alongside them, it’ll bring more offence from the line.

“Just watching the game, on the power play, he’s always making a great play,” Roy said, of Maccelli’s play so far. “He’s been good to watch.”

With Maccelli brought in from the Utah Mammoth this summer, it’s a special trio of players who are brand-new to the Maple Leafs this season. Under the Berube system, they’re all looking for improved numbers on the scoresheet, especially Joshua and Maccelli who are looking to bounce back after a down season. Roy shared what it’s like to be playing with a set of fresh faces on this Leafs squad.

“I guess we’re all new players, so learning a new system,” Roy said. “But like I said, staff did such a good job with us. Excited to see what happens tonight.”

After a 7-2 defeat of the Canadiens in preseason action on Thursday, the Leafs will look to keep riding high tonight. Puck drops from Montreal at 7pm eastern time.