The Maple Leafs have a first-round pick in their pocket from the deal that sent Nic Roy to the Colorado Avalanche at last year’s deadline, and that asset is starting to look a lot more interesting.
Toronto has been connected to all kinds of trade chatter lately as it looks for help on the blue line or a bigger swing that could change the lineup. The Leafs have been careful about spending major assets, but that hasn’t stopped the rumours from building. And right in the middle of that conversation sits the 2028 first-rounder from Colorado.
For now, it’s a real bargaining chip. But the Avalanche’s early-season stumble has given Toronto a reason to slow down before cashing it in.
Colorado is off to a 5-4-1 start, and the roughest part is that the Avalanche are coming off back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and New Jersey, two of the league’s lesser teams. They’ve already taken four regulation losses in 10 games, which is a sharp contrast from last season, when that didn’t happen until early January.
That kind of start makes the pick look better on paper because Colorado doesn’t look like the usual steamroller. Still, Toronto would be wise not to rush anything. The Avalanche could easily get rolling again, and if they do, that first-rounder loses some shine.
If Colorado turns things around, the value of the pick changes fast. It would still be a first-round selection, but instead of landing in that 15-20 range, it could slide later, which might matter in a deal. A team might be more willing to move if it believes the pick it’s getting has more juice.
That uncertainty is exactly why Toronto should wait as long as it can before making a decision. The Leafs don’t have to move that pick right away, and they may not need to if their own group keeps settling in. The results have been getting better game by game, and if the injured players come back soon, Toronto may not need to force a replacement move.
So even though the Avalanche pick is useful as trade ammo, its real value may come from patience. If the Leafs are trying to win now, they’ll eventually need to use it. But they should hold off until the last possible second and see what the rest of the 2026-27 season brings.
In Other News...
Easton Cowans Breakout Just Made A Leafs Decision Much Harder
Easton Cowan has spent the early part of the season doing more than just flashing promise, and that has quietly changed the conversation around him. Through 11 games, he has piled up 10 points while giving the Leafs real value away from the puck, too, with a growing role on the penalty kill and strong underlying numbers at 5-on-5.
The most encouraging part for Toronto is how complete the impact has been. Cowan has already shown he can help in transition, create offense and disrupt plays defensively, which is why his rise now feels bigger than a hot start. He is still a restricted free agent in 2028-29, but if this level holds, the next Leafs decision on him is only going to get more expensive. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Get An Early Boost That Could Change Everything Up Front
The trade chatter around the league is starting to pick up, and that always puts Toronto on alert for what might shake loose up front. With names like Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin and several Pittsburgh veterans already in the rumor mill, the market has a way of forcing contenders and buyers to adjust quickly, especially when a club like Vancouver is looking more like a seller than a team ready to stand pat.
One of the more interesting situations to watch is Jake DeBrusk, who may need to decide whether to signal any openness to movement before his no-movement protection gets tighter. At the same time, Edmonton is getting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back from injury, a return that should matter both in five-on-five usage and on the power play, and those kinds of lineup boosts can ripple through the trade picture faster than anyone expects. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Got Another Intriguing Option For More Size Up Front
Torontos search for more heft up front has put another name on the board, and this one fits the profile the Maple Leafs have been chasing. Dmitri Voronkov has drawn interest from Toronto as the Blue Jackets consider their options, giving the Leafs a potential swing at a winger whose game is built around size, physicality and enough offensive touch to help a middle-six role.
The 26-year-old has been productive over the past three seasons, averaging 19 goals and 19 assists, and he is still under team control beyond this year as a restricted free agent. For the Leafs, the appeal is obvious: a big body who can change the look of a forward group. The question is whether Columbus decides the right move is to keep shopping, and whether Toronto is willing to push hard enough to make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]