The Toronto Maple Leafs have been using some misdirection over the last 24 hours, in advance of the NHL Trade Deadline at 3 pm Friday. The Leafs scratched defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton in the shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, but on Thursday, the club dealt a player who played in their fifth straight loss; center Nicolas Roy.
Toronto announced that it has traded Roy to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a conditional first-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. The conditions are that if Colorado’s 2027 first-round selection is in the top-10 of the 2027 NHL Draft, Colorado will send its unprotected 2028 first-round pick to Toronto. Colorado currently holds three fifth-round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft; the lowest of those three picks will be transferred to Toronto as part of the transaction.
Roy was acquired from Vegas last June in a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner. The 29-year-old center had 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists) in 59 games and has another year left at a $3 million cap hit. There has been no indication that Toronto is retaining any salary in the deal.
This is a solid return for the Leafs, who had dealt their 2027 first in the deal to acquire Laughton from Philadelphia last March. Toronto should now continue to deal off pieces of their club, especially their expiring contracts, to recoup as many assets and prospects as possible.
Will update
