The NHL trade freeze went into effect on Wednesday afternoon. While teams cannot make trades until Feb. 22, general managers can still negotiate during this period. Once the freeze is lifted, it’ll be just 12 days before the trade deadline.
The Avalanche are in the market for help up front. There’s a possibility we could see them add a middle-six winger to bolster their depth, but the most pressing need is help down the middle, particularly at 3C.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs slowly falling out of playoff contention and open to the idea of a soft sell, is there a good match for the Avs to acquire a center from the Leafs? If so, two names could be a good match.
Scott Laughton or Nicolas Roy.
Laughton, 31, is on an expiring deal and accounts for just $1.5 million of Toronto’s cap. When the Leafs acquired him from Philadelphia last year, the deal came with salary retention. Laughton hasn’t been a great fit for Toronto offensively, albeit he fills a big role for that club as a leader both on and off the ice.
Laughton has eight goals and 11 points in 39 games playing mostly as a fourth-line center. If acquired, the Avs could slot him in at 3C as a pure rental, while potentially looking at extending him over the summer if there’s a fit.
Roy would perhaps be the better fit. And it’ll likely cost more to acquire him.
The 29-year-old Stanley Cup champion is in his first season with the Maple Leafs, as he was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights for Mitch Marner’s rights last summer.
Roy has five goals and 20 points in 54 games. In his final four years with Vegas, Roy averaged 16 goals and 41 points per 82 games. He also has 32 points in 79 career playoff appearances, including 11 in 22 games to help Vegas capture the Stanley Cup in 2023.
At 6’4, 200 lbs, Roy fits the bill as a rangy centerman similar to what Colorado coveted last year in Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle. He also kills penalties and boasts a 53.6% success rate in faceoffs this year.
While Laughton is a pending UFA, Roy would be a more longer term fit. His contract runs through the end of next season at a very manageable $3 million. Ultimately, the Avs would solve their center depth for each of the next two playoff runs without taking a big hit against the cap.
