The NHL trade deadline chatter is heating up, and a fascinating connection has emerged between two contenders moving in opposite directions. According to Colorado Avalanche insider Aarif Deen, the Avs should be looking directly at the Toronto Maple Leafs to solve their woes down the middle—specifically by targeting center Nicolas Roy.
For the Avalanche, the need is glaring. They are starving for stability on the third line, a role Roy has mastered throughout his career. At 29 years old and carrying a reasonable $3 million AAV through next season, Roy isn’t just a rental; he is a cost-controlled asset that fits Colorado’s championship window perfectly. Deen highlights Roy’s prowess on the penalty kill and his reliability in the faceoff circle as the primary reasons Colorado GM Chris MacFarland should pick up the phone.
The proposed cost? Likely a third-round draft pick. For a Leafs team currently wading through a disappointing stretch of performance, recouping a high pick for a bottom-six forward might be the smart asset management play, even if it hurts to lose him.
Why Nicolas Roy is the Perfect Fit for Colorado
From an analyst’s perspective, this move checks every box for the Avalanche. Colorado has always thrived on speed and skill, but their bottom six has occasionally lacked the defensive conscience required to shut down elite opponents in the postseason.
Roy brings a heavy game. He is difficult to play against, uses his size effectively along the boards, and can chip in offensively without cheating for chances. Placing him on the Avs’ third line stabilizes their rotation and allows their top guns to focus purely on offense. If you look at the successful Cup run in 2022, they had elite depth checking. Roy brings that specific flavor of “hard-to-play-against” hockey back to Denver.
The Oilers Factor: A Bidding War Brewing?
Here is where things get complicated for Colorado—and potentially lucrative for Toronto. Rumors are swirling that the Edmonton Oilers also have a vested interest in acquiring Roy.
If Edmonton gets involved, the price tag naturally goes up. The Leafs, despite their struggles, hold the leverage here. They don’t have to move Roy given his contract status. However, if they decide to retool on the fly, having two Western Conference powerhouses bidding against each other is the ideal scenario for Toronto.
My take? The Leafs should hold onto Roy unless the offer blows them away. He is the type of player you need in the playoffs, not one you ship out. But if the team doesn’t turn it around soon, the allure of a third-round pick—plus potentially more if the Oilers drive the price up—might be too good to ignore. Whether the Avalanche have the assets and the will to outbid Edmonton remains the biggest question mark.
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