The latest from insider NHL Frank Seravalli suggests the Toronto Maple Leafs are holding firm on their asking price for center Nicolas Roy. Reportedly looking for a 1st-round pick plus a prospect, they also have no willingness to retain any of his $3 million cap hit.
As the 2026 trade deadline approaches (Friday at 3 p.m. ET), multiple reports describe the demand as steep and it could explain why he hasn’t been traded yet and other centers have been moved to teams that were rumored to have interest in Roy.
Roy was asked about his name being out there. “Obviously, I saw the rumor like everybody else but rumors, until they come true, until they happen.. I wasn’t expecting to be traded last summer and never heard any rumors, and then it happened, and sometimes you hear rumors, and it doesn’t happen.” He added, “I’m playing for the Leafs now, I want to be here, and I’m focused on the game tonight.” It was another loss, the team’s second overtime loss in a row.
Will a Team Step Up and Pay the Price for Roy?
Roy (29, 6’4″, right-shot center) was acquired by Toronto from the Vegas Golden Knights last summer in the blockbuster sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to Vegas (a 1-for-1 swap). He has one year left on his five-year, $3M AAV deal (originally signed with VGK in 2022), making him a pending UFA after 2026-27 but providing a full extra season of control at a very team-friendly cap hit.
Toronto views him as a premium asset: a big, physical, two-way middle-six center with strong penalty-killing chops. He has Stanley Cup experience (won with Vegas in 2023), and he is reliable in playoff-style games. He’s the kind of player that contenders crave for depth, and GM Brad Treliving is betting that someone will pay the steep price ahead of Friday’s deadline. Because the Maple Leafs aren’t in full sell mode simply moving on from him makes little sense unless the return is significant.
Some are calling what the Leafs are looking for an overreach. The Oilers, for example, were rumored to be heavily in, then pivoted to acquiring Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Chicago. They gave up the first-rounder, but got retention and also moved Andrew Mangiapane’s contract in the deal. One can only assume that pivot came with Toronto playing hardball.
Contenders needing center depth and playoff grit see the appeal, but the price tag could scare off most unless someone gets desperate.
Next: Nothing Exciting For Maple Leafs Close to Trade Deadline
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