Three Potential Trade Destinations For Disgruntled Maple Leafs Winger Nick Robertson
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson has not had an easy road to the NHL. The 22-year-old has dealt with significant injuries that hamstrung his NHL tenure, and when he was healthy, there hasn’t been a proper fit for him as a top-six forward in Toronto. So it surprised few when reports popped up last week that Robertson has requested a trade; he clearly doesn’t see a long-term fit with the Leafs, and his frustrations have boiled over to the point he now wants out of the organization that drafted him at No. 53 overall in 2019.
If the relationship between the Leafs and Robertson can’t be mended, where’s the best place he can be moved to in which the deal makes sense for both the teams and the player? Let’s look at a few potential destinations for him: 1. San Jose Sharks Robertson is a California native, and the Sharks are in dire need of help in just about every area. If San Jose was willing to give up, say, a second-round draft pick – the Leafs don’t have their own second-rounder until 2027 – and a mid-tier prospect, would that be enough for Leafs GM Brad Treliving?
The cap space the Leafs would save in this type of deal allows Toronto to do other things with their roster, and the Sharks would add a young piece to go along with budding phenom forward Will Smith and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini. The chance to play closer to home would likely appeal to Robertson, and the Leafs wouldn’t have to worry about being haunted by him if
they moved him to a divisional rival team. 2. Columbus Blue Jackets The Blue Jackets are in the early stages of another major rebuild, and that means there’s still going to be some jumbling within the roster. If Columbus GM Don Waddell deals veteran forward Boone Jenner, a spot in the Jackets’ top-six would open up, and the pressure on Robertson would not be nearly so onerous in a quiet hockey media market like Ohio.