Dave Litman
The first shoe has dropped for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They’ve traded third-line center Nic Roy to the Colorado Avalanche. And they landed the ever-elusive first-round pick.
In return, the Leafs got a conditional first-round pick in 2027 (top 10 protected) and a 2026 fifth-round pick. If the 2027 selection lands in the top 10, Colorado will instead send Toronto its 2028 first-round pick—unprotected.
This is an unexpected windfall for the Leafs, who do not own a first-rounder in this year’s draft, and didn’t have one in ’27 either before this deal. The seller’s market paid off for Toronto.
The Avs had been looking for a third-line pivot that brings some size and physicality, and they got that with Roy. Colorado was also thought to be considering another Leafs trade candidate, pending UFA Scott Laughton.
Roy still has another year remaining on his deal, at a $3 million cap hit.
The 6’4″, 200-pounder is a big-bodied, two-way center, but brings a strong defensive presence as his first priority. He can kill penalties, and win puck battles with his size.
His offense hasn’t been much to write home about with the Leafs this season, as his typical 14-15 goal, 30-40 point output has dropped significantly, to just five goals and 20 points through 59 games.
Roy brings Stanley Cup pedigree to Avalanche
But his playoff resume is a good one, and that should serve the Avalanche well. They’ll be in a dogfight to get out of the brutal Central Division in this year’s playoffs. In 79 career postseason contests, Roy has played a strong game. He has handed out 203 hits, while recording 32 points. He was a key cog in the Vegas Golden Knights’ 2023 run to the Stanley Cup, producing 11 points in 22 games that spring, while logging 15 minutes of ice time a night.
The 29-year-old was acquired from Vegas last summer as the Leafs’ return in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Mitch Marner to Sin City.
That means their return on Marner is now a first-rounder and a fifth-rounder.
