Avalanche Acquires Nicolas Roy in Trade, Sends Picks to Maple Leafs The Colorado Avalanche have secured their new No. 3 center in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquiring Nicolas Roy in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round selection. Roy, a 6-foot-4 forward with five goals and 20 points in 59 games this season, is expected to fill the third-line role for the Avalanche. TSN analyst Craig Button praised Roy’s potential, calling him “a really, really good third-line center” who excels as a right-shot player capable of killing penalties. Roy’s ability to disrupt opponents has made him a tough matchup for teams. The 29-year-old joined the Maple Leafs last offseason after being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2023. Over the past four seasons with Vegas, Roy consistently posted between 13 and 15 goals and 31 to 41 points. The Avalanche’s need for a reliable third center has been evident this season, following the trade of Charlie Coyle to Columbus in June. While Jack Drury, Ross Colton, and Parker Kelly have all filled the role in recent years, coach Jared Bednar has leaned on Colton and Kelly on the wings, with Drury serving as the No. 4 center. Roy’s addition aims to solidify the middle of the ice for the playoffs. Roy’s contract includes one more season with a $3 million cap hit, while Drury, who has eight goals and 21 points this season, is a restricted free agent this offseason. Roy’s playing style has shifted toward a defense-first approach with the Maple Leafs, as he has spent the fewest percentage of shifts in the offensive zone of his career and has the lowest offensive-zone faceoff percentage.#toronto_maple_leafs #nicolas_roy #avalanche #chris_macfarland #craig_button
