Nick Robertson appears to have requested a trade
NHL Free Agency officially kicked off on Canada Day, and the Toronto Maple Leafs quickly made moves.
Shortly after free agency began, the Maple Leafs announced the signings of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Anthony Stolarz, who had attended the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup parade over the weekend.
These initial acquisitions, along with the extension of Max Domi and the signing of Chris Tanev after trading for his rights, have significantly reshaped the team’s roster. Domi’s signing, in particular, led to the Leafs withdrawing from the race for Tyler Bertuzzi, who secured a five-million-dollar deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Whether you approve of the front office’s moves or not, the first day of free agency and the days leading up to it have provided a clearer picture of the team’s future. Previously, there were numerous questions: Would the Leafs trade for a goalie? How would the front office address the blue line? What were their plans for Domi and Bertuzzi? There was also the baseless Mitch Marner trade speculation.
Most of these questions have now been answered. However, the Maple Leafs still face one significant dilemma: Nicholas Robertson.
A New Tough Decision The Toronto Maple Leafs Have To Make
Robertson and Liljegren were the Maple Leafs’ two restricted free agents needing new deals. While the team quickly reached an agreement with Liljegren, it was reported that Robertson had requested a trade over the weekend.
Given Robertson’s struggle to secure a consistent spot on the Maple Leafs roster and his expressed frustration over the past year, it’s unsurprising that he is unhappy in Toronto and wishes to be traded. Despite being one of the team’s most productive players at five-on-five, he still struggled to break into the lineup.
Last year at five-on-five, Robertson ranked 17th in the NHL in goals per 60 minutes among players with 300 or more minutes on the ice and 37th in points per 60 minutes. This is impressive considering he played alongside Ryan Reaves, Noah Gregor, and David Kämpf for most of the season. His frustration is understandable, given he only appeared in 56 games last season (via NaturalStatTrick).
Regardless of Robertson’s wishes, the Maple Leafs control his rights, and the front office appears unprepared to move on from him.
It looks that Nick Robertson asked to be traded.Teams will surely be interested in Robertson, so it will be interesting to watch how the Maple Leafs handle this scenario. A player with the ability to score 40 goals and who will be among the NHL’s top depth scorers this season is someone that any team would be happy to acquire.
The best course of action for the Maple Leafs is to retain Robertson and provide him the steady minutes he desires, in spite of his wishes. Robertson has the potential to become one of the NHL’s most underappreciated and talented depth scorers if he is given regular playing time.
He is still only 22 years old, so he has a lot of growth remaining in him. If the package is indeed that good, it would be a shame to see the Leafs part with this kind of player.