Career
He went by both nicknames of Jimmy and Jim. After playing for future Montreal Canadiens coach Scotty Bowman with the OHA junior Peterborough Petes, Roberts was signed by the Canadiens and turned pro with the Montreal Royals minor league team in 1959. In the 1964 season, he saw his first National Hockey League action with Montreal and remained the next several seasons, winning two Stanley Cups before becoming the first selection of the Saint Louis Blues in 1967 National Hockey League Expansion Draft.
He played solidly for the Blues for five seasons, being named the team captain in 1971 before his trade back to Montreal, where he played for three more Cup winners.
Roberts rejoined the Blues for one final season in 1978 before his retirement. He was renowned for his defensive skills and often used as a "shadow" against high scoring enemy forwards.
He went on to be the coach and general manager of the Worcester IceCats of the AHL for two seasons before moving on to be an assistant coach with the Saint Louis parent club between 1996–2000, including a short stint as the interim head coach in 1997. Roberts played in 1006 National Hockey League games, scoring 126 goals and 194 assists for 320 points, and playing in three All-Star Games in 1965, 1969 and 1970.
Jimmy Roberts name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1965, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1977 (all with Montreal).
Roberts died October 23, 2015 of cancer, which had been diagnosed weeks prior. On October 27, 2015 the Saint Louis Blues announced they were going to wear helmet decals for the home stand that read "JR" in the lower left corner of the helmet.