Nick Robertson, a winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, did not have an easy journey to the NHL. The 22-year-old has struggled with serious ailments that have limited his NHL career, and even in his healthy spells, he hasn’t fit in well as Toronto’s top-six forward. Few were shocked, then, when rumors surfaced last week indicating that Robertson had made a trade request; it’s obvious he doesn’t see himself playing for the Leafs in the long run, and his frustrations have reached a boiling point where he wants to leave the team that selected him 53rd overall in the 2019 draft. In the event that the Leafs and Robertson are unable to work things out, where would be the ideal spot to trade him such that it would benefit both parties? Let’s consider some possible places he may go:
1. The Sharks of San Jose Robertson is a native of California, and the Sharks could use some assistance in almost every department. Would Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving be satisfied if San Jose was prepared to part up, say, a second-round draft selection (the Leafs don’t have a second-round pick until 2027) and a mid-tier prospect? The Sharks would gain a young player to go along with developing star forward Will Smith and 2024 No. 1 overall selection Macklin Celebrini, while the Leafs would be able to do other things with their squad thanks to the cap money they would save in this kind of transaction. Robertson would probably be drawn to the opportunity to play closer to home, and the Leafs wouldn’t have to worry about him haunting them if they sent him to a divisional rival team.
2. The Columbus Blue Jackets There will still be some roster jumbling as the Blue Jackets begin the first phases of yet another extensive reconstruction. A slot in the Jackets’ top six would become available if Columbus general manager Don Waddell sells veteran forward Boone Jenner, and Robertson would not be under as much pressure in a hockey media hotbed as Ohio. Once more, in terms of what Toronto might receive in exchange, you may expect to see a respectable prospect and/or a high draft selection. Only a few times a season would the Leafs face the Jackets, and Robertson would receive his fresh start in Columbus. The Leafs and Blue Jackets are a good fit for each other, as Toronto replenishes their draft capital and Columbus adds Robertson, a valuable long-term addition. 3. The Vegas Golden Knights Even though the Golden Knights are now over the salary limit ceiling, GM Kelly McCrimmon has a history of being a proactive player and making significant decisions. Additionally, adding Robertson would strengthen Vegas’ middle-six forward group. The Golden Knights hold all three of the second-round picks in the next drafts, so the Leafs would be happy with one of them, and Robertson would be considerably closer to home than he is in Toronto.
Regardless of the outcome, Vegas would be adding a potential 20–25 goal scorer without subtracting anything from the NHL roster, and Toronto would be getting rid of a disgruntled player and making room on the roster for a young player like Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten. The Leafs might have to settle for a decent prospect rather than a draft pick. In hockey’s top level, deals like this one are frequently done since it benefits both sides.
