With the NHL’s trade freeze officially in effect until February 22, front offices around the league are in that quiet-but-busy phase - no deals can be finalized, but the phones are still ringing. For the Colorado Avalanche, that’s prime time to lay the groundwork for what could be a key move before the March 4 trade deadline. And make no mistake: they’re in the market, and the target is clear - help down the middle.
Colorado’s top six is still dangerous, but as the postseason grind approaches, the need for a reliable third-line center has become more than just a wishlist item. It’s a necessity. They’ve been down this road before, and with the Western Conference heating up, the Avs know that shoring up their center depth could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.
Enter the Toronto Maple Leafs. With their playoff hopes fading and management reportedly open to a soft sell, there’s a potential match here. Two names stand out as possible targets for Colorado: Scott Laughton and Nicolas Roy.
Let’s start with Laughton. At 31, he’s a veteran presence with playoff experience, currently playing out the final year of his deal.
He carries a modest $1.5 million cap hit thanks to salary retention from when Toronto acquired him from Philadelphia. Offensively, the fit in Toronto hasn’t been seamless - eight goals and 11 points in 39 games, mostly in a fourth-line role - but Laughton brings more than just numbers.
He’s known for his leadership, grit, and versatility, the kind of guy who can slide into a third-line role and give you honest minutes in all three zones.
For Colorado, he’d be a pure rental. But if the chemistry is there, there’s always the option to talk extension in the summer. He’s not flashy, but he’s dependable - a classic “glue guy” who could stabilize the bottom six and take some pressure off the top lines.
Then there’s Nicolas Roy, and this is where things get interesting.
Roy, 29, has a Stanley Cup ring and a skill set that checks a lot of boxes for the Avalanche. He’s in his first season with the Maple Leafs after coming over from Vegas in the Mitch Marner rights deal last summer. His numbers this year - five goals and 20 points in 54 games - don’t jump off the page, but the underlying value is there.
In his final four seasons with the Golden Knights, Roy averaged 16 goals and 41 points per 82 games. He’s also been a playoff performer, with 32 points in 79 postseason games, including a pivotal run in 2023 when he posted 11 points in 22 games to help Vegas lift the Cup.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Roy brings the kind of size and reach that Colorado has coveted in past trade targets like Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle. He’s also a reliable penalty killer and is winning over 53% of his faceoffs this season - a key stat when you’re looking to win tight playoff games.
The kicker? Roy isn’t just a rental.
He’s under contract through next season at a very manageable $3 million cap hit. That gives the Avalanche not only a solution for this year’s playoff push but also a head start on next year’s roster construction - all without breaking the bank.
Of course, the price to acquire Roy would likely be steeper than for Laughton. He’s younger, more productive, and under team control. But if Colorado is serious about making another run at the Cup, this is the kind of move that could pay off in a big way.
So while the trade freeze has temporarily hit pause on transactions, the Avs are very much in motion behind the scenes. Whether it’s Laughton’s leadership and low-risk rental appeal or Roy’s two-way game and longer-term upside, Colorado has options.
And once the freeze lifts, expect them to move quickly - because in the NHL, center depth isn’t a luxury come playoff time. It’s a necessity.