The Toronto Maple Leafs made their first deal ahead of the NHL trade deadline, sending center Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche for a conditional first-round draft choice in 2027 and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026.
If the Avalanche's first-round choice is top-10 in the 2027 draft, Colorado will send its unprotected 2028 first-round pick to Toronto. The Avalanche, who have three fifth-round selections in 2026, will send the lowest of those picks to the Leafs.
Toronto acquired Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights last June as the centerpiece return of the Mitch Marner trade. The 29-year-old pivot has five goals and 20 points in 59 games for the Leafs this season.
The asking price for Roy reflects a trade market that's been slow to move some of the bigger-name forwards. Colorado needed a third-line center to complement Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson, and Roy can be that player for the Avalanche. He's a sturdy, physical skater who can take on a shutdown role with good defensive skills and puck movement.
Colorado has been one of the best teams in the league all year, and bolstering its depth down the middle was a priority.
It only makes sense for Toronto to begin unloading what it can to focus on building for the future. The Leafs, who lost their fifth straight game Wednesday, have struggled all season and are seventh in the Atlantic Division.
The NHL trade deadline is 3 p.m. ET Friday.
