The Colorado Avalanche have acquired a new third center, enhancing their roster with the recent trade for Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In exchange for the 29-year-old, the Avalanche dealt a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Roy, standing at 6 feet 4 inches, has made a notable impact this season with five goals and 20 points across 59 games. His experience includes winning the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, and he joined Toronto last offseason as part of the trade that sent star player Mitch Marner to Vegas. Throughout his time with the Golden Knights, Roy consistently contributed, netting between 13 to 15 goals and recording 31 to 41 points in each of the past four seasons.
The move comes after the Avalanche struggled to fill the third center position following Charlie Coyle’s trade to Columbus in June. Coach Jared Bednar has utilized Jack Drury, Ross Colton, and Parker Kelly in that role over the past two seasons, but he prefers to position Colton and Kelly on the wings while Drury fits better as the No. 4 center.
The first-round pick in the trade is protected against falling in the top 10, meaning if that scenario occurs, it will convert to an unprotected first-round pick in 2028. The Avalanche also have three fifth-round picks in this year’s draft, and Toronto will receive the lowest of those once the draft order is finalized.
This strategic acquisition signals the Avalanche’s commitment to improving their performance as they continue the season, aiming for success in the competitive league.