Nicolas Roy’s move to the Avalanche has seen him go from outside the playoffs to chasing the Stanley Cup. The Avalanche acquired Roy from Toronto on March 5, sending draft picks to the Maple Leafs in exchange. Roy has since become part of Colorado’s third line alongside captain Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri.
From Maple Leafs to Stanley Cup Contender
Roy expressed his delight with the trade, stating he went “from definitely not making the playoffs to obviously the first team in the league and a team that’s pulling out every stop to win the Cup this year.” He added, “As a hockey player, that’s exactly what you want.”
Roy aims to contribute in various ways and hopes to replicate his first-round performance in the second round.
Immediate Impact in the First Round
Head coach Jared Bednar lauded Roy’s play as “amazing” during the Avs’ sweep of the Kings in the opening round. Roy registered points in three of the four games, including the game-winning goal in Game 2. He also had an assist in Game 3 and another goal in Game 4.
Roy’s plus/minus for the series was plus-five, averaging 12.87 minutes of ice time per game.
Versatility on the Third Line
Roy’s versatility as a natural centre who can also play as a winger made him an attractive trade target for Colorado. The acquisition of Kadri affirmed that Roy would play winger, while Kadri would centre Colorado’s third line.
Previously, the third line consisted of Victor Olofsson, Jack Drury, and Parker Kelly. Olofsson was traded to the Flames as part of the Kadri trade, while Drury and Kelly are now on Colorado’s fourth line with Logan O’Connor.
Experience a Key Factor
Bednar highlighted the experience of Landeskog, Kadri, and Roy as a crucial element in Colorado’s sweep of Los Angeles. However, he indicated a potential line shuffle for the second round against either Dallas or Minnesota.
“(Roy) is a responsible, defensive player, and that type of offense and the way he created it (against the Kings) can be repeated against any opponent,” Bednar said. “That was a favorable matchup for us — we had three veteran guys, all that have won a Stanley Cup, playing against a younger third line. They won that matchup, and that’s a big reason why we won that series.”
Roy was part of the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup team in 2023, where he recorded 11 points in 22 playoff games. He is drawing on that experience as he develops chemistry with Kadri.