Maple Leafs Finally Land A First-Rounder, Trade Nic Roy

The cupboard was bare, but GM Brad Treliving has taken advantage of the seller's market, and has started to restock the shelves. The Toronto Maple Leafs have dealt Nic Roy to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a conditional first-rounder in 2027 plus a fifth-round pick.

The Maple Leafs have traded Nic Roy to the Avs 🔄#NHLTradeDeadline | @bet365ca pic.twitter.com/rDmvoVNwth
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 5, 2026

The '27 first-rounder is top-10 protected, but if it doesn't convey in '27, then it becomes an unprotected first-rounder in 2028. The fifth-rounder is in this June's Draft.

The Leafs' draft stock was woeful after the years of trading away first-round picks for unsuccessful playoff runs. They had no first-rounder in '26 or '27 before this deal. This June, in fact, the Leafs don't select until the third-round—unless they're somehow able to rectify that with another trade in the next 24 hours. They now have a third, two fifths, and a sixth rounder for the '26 Draft. All other selections have been dealt away.

For Colorado, they'd been searching for a third-line center, and were also linked to Toronto's Scott Laughton, a pending UFA. Instead, they went for the non-rental. Roy still has another year remaining on his deal, at $3 million.

More to come...