Born in Amos, Quebec—about a 5½ hour drive north of Ottawa—on February 7, 1997, 28-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicolas Roy was a prolific goal-scorer and playmaker for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Interestingly, the Leafs were on the clock at the 2015 NHL draft and Roy was available when Toronto was picking in the fourth round at No. 95. The Leafs selected Swedish defenceman Jesper Lindgren, who never played in an NHL game. At No. 96, Roy was taken by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sometimes, all it takes to be instantly beloved by the fan base of your new team is to say the right thing at the right time. In his first chance to speak with