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
Nicolas Roy Traded to Avalanche by Maple Leafs for Conditional Draft Picks Nicolas Roy, a 29-year-old forward, was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. The Maple Leafs received a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft as part of the deal. Roy, who has one year remaining on his $15 million, five-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season. Roy, who joined the Maple Leafs in July 2025 in a trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Golden Knights, has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 59 games this season. His performance with the Maple Leafs has been notable, though the team has struggled this season, sitting seventh in the Atlantic Division with a record of 27-25-11. The Maple Leafs have lost six straight games since the Olympic break, extending their losing streak to 12 of 15 contests. The Avalanche, meanwhile, remain atop the NHL standings with a record of 41-10-9, holding a six-point lead over the Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division. The team’s strong performance has made them a key player in the trade market, and the acquisition of Roy adds depth to their roster. Roy, who was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round (No. 96) of the 2015 NHL Draft, has accumulated 186 points (73 goals, 113 assists) in 428 regular-season games across the Hurricanes, Golden Knights, and Maple Leafs. He also contributed 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 79 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including a championship with the Golden Knights in 2023. Toronto coach Craig Berube acknowledged the inevitability of the trade, stating, “We knew this was coming. It’s a tight-knit group in there. They won’t be happy about it.#colorado_avalanche #toronto_maple_leafs #carolina_hurricanes #vegas_golden_knights #nicolas_roy
