Updated: March 5, 2026
The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially entered the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline with a splash that addresses their future. This trade sees Nicholas Roy going to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for two draft picks—a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Both picks are conditional, but still offer good asset return for the Leafs. The 2027 first-rounder is top-10 protected, in which the Avalanche would hold onto their pick and instead send their 2028 pick to Toronto. It would take an all-time cratering of the league-leading Avalanche for this to happen so consider the pick a 2027 pick.
The 2026 fifth-rounder is also conditional, where the lowest of Colorado’s three fifth-round picks would be sent to Toronto as the draft order settles by season’s end.
Leafs trade details and salary cap impact
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Acquisition | 2027 first-round pick 2026 fifth-round pick |
| Trade From | Colorado Avalanche |
| Price Paid | Nicholas Roy |
| Contract/Cap | +$3M cap space |
Instant Analysis: Why the Toronto Maple Leafs went for the future
Nicholas Roy has been serviceable but not exactly a game-changer. His role on the Leafs saw him playing the least amount of hockey since 2020–21 with the Vegas Golden Knights. He slotted in seventh among Leafs forwards in ice time and put up five goals and 15 assists in 59 games, also a personal low for him since 2020–21.
This type of trade sees the Leafs planning for the future, and they grabbed a nice deal with two decent picks, with the first-rounder being the prize. They didn’t have to retain any portion of Roy’s $3M cap hit, leaving them flexibility in the final days before the trade deadline.
Toronto Maple Leafs Trade FAQ: Instant Answers
What is the Toronto Maple Leafs’ remaining cap space after the trade?
Post-trade, the Leafs have just over $8M in deadline cap space, per PuckPedia.
Who did the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away?
The Toronto Maple Leafs sent Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche and received a conditional 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2026 first-round pick.
When is the next Toronto Maple Leafs game?
The Leafs suit up again tonight, March 5, 2026. With Roy usually taking a bottom-six role, we’ll see how the Leafs handle the slight forward corps shuffle.
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