By now we’re all fully aware that Nicholas Robertson has asked to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization, as he is looking for a fresh start somewhere else:
While it also appears that GM Brad Treliving would prefer to keep Robertson in the fold, as he has stated that they’re hoping he reconsiders his stance and believes that there is a good opportunity for Robertson in Toronto, you also have to strongly consider moving on from a player that obviously doesn’t value the logo on the front of the jersey as much as the name on the back. It’s my belief that if you fill your team with players that are committed to your organization, city and fans, it heightens your ability to compete for the ultimate prize. Whereas if you have players sprinkled around the lineup that simply don’t want to be there, or, as in Robertson’s case, are there to try to grow their brand and their paycheque before moving along to whatever organization they truly want to be a part of, you’re putting yourself in a tough place to win in the playoffs. Afterall, at the end of the day, you need players that bring skill and heart to the table if you want to win the Cup and Robertson obviously doesn’t have the heart for the Leafs jersey.
I know a lot of people are talking about Robertson being the victim of a numbers game, in which he has been demoted to the AHL because of his waiver exemption and the Leafs being pressed against the cap ceiling for years, but I don’t buy that excuse for asking to be moved. Over his first 31 regular season games, spread throughout 3 seasons, Robertson produced 3 goals and 7 points, which would be an 18pt pace over a full 82 game schedule. For a skater that doesn’t bring anything to the table except for offense, that simply isn’t good enough. While his AHL numbers are excellent, his NHL stints weren’t the type that would force management to keep him in the lineup. On top of that he played just 17 games over the 2022-23 season, AHL and NHL combined, while dressing for 38 the year prior and just 27 the year before that. His injuries hit hard and often, but when he finally showed up in the NHL and started producing the team dressed him for 56 NHL games, where he scored 14 goals and 27pts, as well as 6 of their 7 playoff games, where he didn’t help on the score sheet at all. With 0 goals, 0pts and a -2 rating in the playoffs, followed by a trade request, it’s hard not to question the character of this player.
The real reason he was demoted was because of poor play and not being able to stay healthy. Let’s be clear about that. Now that he’s a restricted free agent and has had a modicum of success in the NHL he sees an opportunity to leave an organization that, I have to assume, he didn’t want to be part of in the first place. His focus is on going south, going home, and I say let him go.
With that said I understand Treliving’s reluctance. An oft injured player that hasn’t proven his ability to play top 6 minutes and is asking to leave isn’t exactly a high value asset in the NHL. If Robertson could fetch a high pick or valuable prospect then maybe he’d have been dealt already. Any trade also has the potential to leave the Leafs looking foolish. It’s obvious that Robertson has untapped potential due to a lack of pro games and considering his 20 goal, 40pt pace this season, he could be on the verge of breaking out. If the Leafs were to trade him and he built on those totals, while their return came out flat, it would simply be another example of trading a youthful player that could have helped the team, as we’ve so often seen in years past. One risk that may be a worthy one to take would be to swap him for another RFA that is still unsigned.
Philip Tomasino and the Predators have yet to agree on a new contract. Tomasino, a Mississauga native, is a 23 year old winger that is often listed as a centre as well, but doesn’t have any NHL experience at that position. He had an identical 0.48 PPG rate as Robertson this season and would fill a similar role. Neither player factors in on the penalty kill and neither has truly taken off in the NHL. A 1-for-1 swap is about as even of a hockey trade as you could make at this point in time, especially if you’re looking at this past season. Tomasino does have more NHL experience and stands at 6′, 180lb, as compared to Robertson’s 5’9″ 178lbs, which means he’s still a slight player, just taller, but that’s the only real edge he has in terms of trade value. Tomasino may be a better fit based solely on the fact that he’d be coming home to play, where he’d be close to family and friends, so he may be more eager to put pen to paper in Toronto.
Arthur Kaliyev, like Robertson, is seeking a new start somewhere else. The 23 year old winger has a sturdy frame at 6’2″ 210lbs and has a couple of decent seasons under his belt already. However, this season he produced just 15pts in 51 games, so the Leafs would hope for a bounce back year if they were to win this deal.
Dawson Mercer is the forward I wanted in his draft year, but the Leafs passed on him for Rodion Amirov. Unfortunately we’ll never know if Amirov would have been the better pick, but Mercer still brings a lot of qualities that I believe the Leafs lack. He can play centre or wing, has an engine that doesn’t quit and is a solid two-way player. It would take far more than just Robertson to get this trade done and fitting his new contract, whatever it may look like, in under the cap ceiling would be a struggle. Mercer and the Devils are reportedly far apart on a new deal, so please, let this dreamer dream. It would also be very satisfying, from a Leafs fan perspective, to send Robertson back to the coach that limited his minutes in the first place.
Peyton Krebs, like Mercer, would add depth down the middle for a team that doesn’t have enough of it. His point totals aren’t exactly sparkling, with a career high 26pts, but he hasn’t been gifted any special teams time and could use a change of scenery. He’d be a better 3C on a scoring line than the options the Leafs currently have.
Of course, that group simply draws for current RFAs and would largely be players that fill a similar depth scoring role as Robertson. Trading to bring a different element to the team would be well advised, considering the Leafs are still weak defensively and are a smaller group overall.
Jack McBain will never bring the scoring prowess that Robertson will, but he does bring an array of valuable qualities to the ice. At 6’4, 215lbs, McBain is a big centre that will draw in on the penalty kill. He’s very willing to toss his body around, as evidenced by his 204 hits in 67 games last season. He dropped the gloves on 4 separate occasions last year as well, which shows a willingness to defend his teammates. He isn’t about to make Ryan Reaves redundant, as he isn’t an elite fighter, but the best way to think of him is a forward version of Simon Benoit that can play 3C and scored 26pts in 67 games last season. He’d be an ideal trade candidate in my opinion and I’ve been saying that for a couple of years now.
Erik Gudbranson is a terrible option at a glance, but if Jani Hakanpaa isn’t going to play this season then Gudbranson would fill that role admirable. He’s big, he’s mean, he’ll kill penalties and his style of game would be fantastic in the playoffs. My proposal to the Jackets would be Gudbranson at 50%, which would bring his caphit to 2M for this year and next, as well as a pick or prospect. Considering I still don’t agree with trading a young player like Robertson straight up for an aging depth defender, bringing back a young asset alongside Gudbranson makes a lot of sense to me. The worst they can do is say no.
Klim Kostin has bounced around the league a little bit over the past few years. Craig Berube should know him well, due to being drafted by the Blues in 2017 and having gone on to play 46 games under Berube over 3 years. Over the past 2 seasons he has played for 3 different teams, where he has played a game in which he steps up to protect his teammates, while also bringing much more to the scoresheet than your average tough guy. He, like McBain, wouldn’t make Reaves expendable, but he’d add a gritty element to the team while also being able to move around the lineup to play with skilled players at times.
Samuel Bolduc is taking his time developing, but he always seems to be taking small steps forward and as long as a player is improving you can’t ask for much more. The 6’4″ 220lb defender is just 23 years old, so this may be a 1 for 1 swap of offense for defense. Considering the Leafs don’t have a lot of solid defense prospects in the pipeline and the Islanders are in need of some goal scorers, this may be a deal that both teams are willing to make. The only problem? Lou has the Isles pressed tight against the cap, so something would have to give there.
One last option is a simple one and that’s trying to recoup the 2nd round pick that they used to draft him in the first place. It’s very unlikely that they would get more than a 2nd and possible that no team wants to pay that much for a player that has consistently been on the IR, but a couple of teams may be willing to go that route.
Utah has three 2nds in 2026, as well as a pair of 3rds in 2025 and 2026. After trading for Mikhail Sergachev this summer, they may be willing to keep pushing to improve. They have some young talent on the way already, so I don’t see it as a great fit, but they may surprise.
Colorado is in a weird position, with Landeskog possibly returning this season and Nichushkin out for a long time, with the team possibly not wanting him to return at all. They may take a flyer on a young asset to keep them competitive until those players figure out what they’re future looks like.
Lastly, Calgary is stocking up on draft capital, but I do wonder if dealing for a young asset that could be set to break out, only to flip him for a better return 12-24 months from now would be a bet that GM Craig Conroy would be willing to make? Potentially ripping off Brad Treliving may be something that ownership there would be happy to involve themselves in.