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Why Would the Avalanche Gamble So Big on Nic Roy?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 2:32 PM ET

Yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded centre Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche for a conditional first-round pick at the 2027 draft and a fifth-rounder this June. It’s a strong return for Roy, and you’ve got to wonder why the Avalanche would give up a first-rounder for him. On the face of it, it’s a surprisingly good return.

Call me silly, but this keeps nagging at me. Exactly a year ago today — March 6, 2025 — Colorado traded a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2027 to get Brock Nelson. I can’t help wondering if that move planted the seed for going after Roy now.

And, what has Nelson done? Already, he’s scored 30 goals and helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Olympics.

Although Nelson and Roy Are Not the Same Player, There Are Similarities

I have to believe Colorado’s move to grab Roy had something to do with how well Nelson’s been doing there this season. It’s not a perfect match between the two players — not even close — but the connection feels real to me. Same kind of big, strong centre who can play heavy and help around the net. Just seems like they saw what worked with one and figured they could get a younger, cheaper version.

Both guys are big, strong centres who like to play heavy. Nelson is 6-foot-4″, Roy is 6-foot-4. They both go to the net hard, win battles along the boards, and can take faceoffs in tough situations. They’re the kind of forwards who make life miserable for defencemen. They screen goalies, tip pucks, and grind in the dirty areas.

That net-front, physical style is exactly what Colorado has learned to appreciate about Nelson, and Roy brings a cheaper, younger version of it. When I watch Roy cycle the puck or battle in front, I see flashes of what Nelson does so well. The Avalanche clearly liked that profile enough to make the move.

Nelson Is Far More Prolific as a Scorer than Roy

Of course, they’re far from being hockey twins. Nelson is a proven 25–35-goal scorer with a higher ceiling and greater production. He’s been a reliable two-way guy who can drive play for long stretches. Roy isn’t Nelson in terms of scoring, but he brings strong defensive skills and can complement Colorado’s lineup in ways Nelson doesn’t have to.

That said, Roy is cheaper and younger (29 vs. 34), and the lower cost and younger age likely made Roy an attractive fit for Colorado’s system. Defensively, Roy is a step ahead, too. So he’s not “Nelson 2.0,” exactly; he’s more like Nelson-lite, with the upside of being able to kill penalties and take defensive zone draws successfully.

Colorado Appreciates Big, Physical Centres

Still, I feel there’s a connection between the two trades that happened almost exactly a year apart. Colorado has had real success with that big, physical, net-front centre, and Roy fits the same mould without the big price tag. When you watch them both cycle and battle, the similarities jump out.

For me, it makes the trade make more sense. The Avalanche weren’t just adding a body; they were adding a specific type of player they already know works in their system.

As I said, it’s not a perfect match, but it’s close enough that I think Nelson’s success in Colorado played at least a role in the team targeting Roy. Sometimes teams fall in love with a certain kind of player, and this feels like one of those times.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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