Welcome to another round of NHL Rumours. The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a recurrent issue this offseason: Nicholas Robertson has demanded a trade and is an RFA who is currently without a contract. On TSN’s radio broadcast, First Up, insider Darren Dreger was interviewed, and the topic of Robertson came up.
Robertson Likely to Stay
.@DarrenDreger on talks around a Marner extension, the latest on Nick Robertson's trade request & negotiations between Swayman and the Bruinshttps://t.co/eBlsbeMQ4K
— First Up (@FirstUp1050) September 9, 2024
During this offseason, Robertson requested a trade out of Toronto. It was clear that he wasn’t getting the playing time and opportunity he felt he deserved. However, according to Dreger, the left winger may have had a change of heart. Despite wanting to leave, there’s no doubt that there is a spot for him on the Leafs. Looking at the left side of Toronto’s roster, the weakness on that side is noticeable. Robertson is still a young player in this league, as he turns 23 in less than one week. While he may not be a top-line player right now, that could very much change through the course of the season. If he stays in Toronto, he will most likely see middle-six minutes, and from there, he could play himself into the top-six.
Dreger said that the forward met with new head coach Craig Berube and that the bench boss reassured him that he’d be given an honest chance on the Leafs’ left wing. In addition, Dreger expressed his confidence in Robertson re-signing with the Maple Leafs.
“I believe that they’re going to get something done and that Nick Robertson will return to the Maple Leafs,” said Dreger. “It sounds like he’s leaning more toward recognizing what he has in Toronto and making the best of the situation.”
A Change of Heart
Not so long ago, Robertson was set on a “change of address,” according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. Nick and his agent, Pat Brisson, really wanted to go elsewhere. Some believe that Robertson’s agent convinced him he could get a big top-six role at another team. However, Dreger reported that when general manager Brad Treliving explored trades for the winger to grant his wish, there wasn’t much interest from other clubs.
Last season, Robertson played 56 games with the Maple Leafs last season, the most in his career. With that, he scored 14 goals and 27 points with just over 11 minutes of ice time per game. If he stays, there is no doubt he’ll be given more minutes under Berube, which could contribute to even more offensive production.
It’s clear that the Leafs’ management strongly believes in Robertson. Even though Treliving browsed a little bit after the trade request, he hinted that Robertson is a big piece for the Maple Leafs for this upcoming season. Despite his small size, he has great skill and a heavy shot. There is a great reason for management to believe in him. Some forget about his time in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes. In his final season, he scored 55 goals in 46 games. It’s all the more impressive to know that Peterborough wasn’t one of the league’s strongest teams. It’ll be exciting to see what Robertson will do next season amid all the offseason drama.
