Photo credit: Sergei Belski Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche are hunting for a massive upgrade down the middle and Toronto’s Nicolas Roy might be the missing piece to a Stanley Cup puzzle.
Aarif Deen recently tossed a match into the gasoline by suggesting the Avalanche should be hunting Roy down to fix their middle-six.
Chris MacFarland needs to find more grit for the bottom six before the deadline hits.
The current roster has plenty of flash but lacks that heavy presence needed for a deep spring run.
Roy is a mountain on the ice.
Standing 6’4″, he’s the kind of imposing force that makes life miserable for opposing defenders.
He isn’t just a big body; he’s a puck-possession beast who wins 53.6% of his draws.
That’s a massive boost for a team that’s struggled to control the dots in key moments.
He’s currently eating up minutes in Toronto with 20 points through 54 games this season.
He is the versatile Swiss Army knife Colorado is missing
Drafted in the 4th round by Carolina, Roy has turned into a premium depth player.
He carries a $3 million price tag that fits nicely into a contender’s cap structure.
But the real value is his playoff experience from his time in Vegas.
He knows what it takes to lift the Cup.
He’s the type of player who thrives when the game gets tight and the space disappears.
Toronto might be hesitant to move him, but the Avs have the assets to make a move happen.
Treliving doesn’t have to hurry, but the phone is definitely ringing off the hook.
If the price hits a first-rounder or a top-tier prospect, you have to think the Leafs pull the trigger.
The market for 6’4″ centers who can actually play doesn’t just open up every day.
And if Colorado pulls this off, the rest of the West is in serious trouble.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily
POLL
15 HOURS AGO|139 ANSWERS
The fit between Nicolas Roy and the Colorado Avalanche could push a deal through quickly
Should the Maple Leafs trade Nicolas Roy if the return is a first-round pick?