Things are still looking bleak for a young talent staying in the Six.
During an appearance on First Up on TSN 1050 on Tuesday, Chris Johnston of The Athletic gave an update on the current situation between the Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Nick Robertson.
“At this stage,” Johnston explained. “Nick Robertson doesn’t seem inclined to sign in Toronto and is sticking to the idea that he’d like to play somewhere else.”
While it seems unlikely, Johnston believes Robertson could fit into the Maple Leafs’ lineup, if he decides to return to the team.
“There’s a pretty clear path for him to be part of the mix at left wing, to potentially have a role that exceeds what he’s had in the past … It ultimately makes a lot of sense–for him and the Leafs to end up together–but I just don’t know if that’s gonna happen.”
The TSN insider also mentioned that there is a scenario where Robertson might change his mind as training camp nears.
“It really comes down to the player, ultimately. Does the player have the ability to stick to a trade request, or as it gets closer to camp, and if the Leafs decide to trade him, or they can’t find a move that makes sense, is it really going to sit out? I don’t know how Nick is going to respond to this situation.”
Johnston reported back in June that Robertson had informed the Maple Leafs he had no intention of re-signing with the team. The 22-year-old is a restricted free agent, and has also asked Toronto to trade him.
Robertson is coming off his most productive season in the NHL. In 56 games, he scored 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points, all career highs. The 22-year-old also played nine games for the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
The Pasadena, California native had only been with the Leafs since they took him in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He made a notable splash during the 2020 postseason, but never found a consistent footing in the NHL. Robertson played just 15 games with the Leafs during the 2022-23 season, spending most of the campaign with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
Over four seasons, Robertson has appeared in 87 NHL games, scoring 17 goals and 17 assists, posting a goal in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has also played in 60 games in the AHL, notching 27 goals and 30 assists. He is coming off his entry-level contract, which saw him making $796,667 over the past three seasons. The restricted free agent’s qualifying offer would be $813,750.
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