The Toronto Maple Leafs Have A Perfect Trade Partner For Nick Robertson
With speculation over who Toronto is going to bring in via a trade, the perfect player has emerged to help their blueline and find a new spot for Nicholas Robertson.
It's been the talk of the town recently regarding the trade targets for the Maple Leafs. From premium centers to depth wingers and towering defensemen; the list is long and Brad Treliving will have his pick of the litter.
But one player he shouldn't overlook could be the difference between a deep playoff push or yet another regular season disappointment, and figure out the Nick Robertson situation once and for all.
Maple Leafs Should Trade Nick Robertson For Jake Walman
In a recent article from The Leafs Nation, reporter Shane Seney mentioned how San Jose would be the perfect trade partner for the Maple Leafs due to center Luke Kunin's ability to help their third line depth; something we've touched on previously.
But Seney also mentioned Jake Walman, a shutdown two-way defenseman who could bring out the best in Morgan Rielly once again:
He's playing massive minutes at close to 23 a game, in all situations, and while he's not the most physical defenseman, his game would be a compliment to the likes of Chris Tanev, Simon Benoit, and Jake McCabe.
The Leafs have been linked to adding another middle-six center to the team before March 7, but with that said, don't be surprised if they add another top-four defenseman, with Walman being someone that should be at the top of their wish list."
It's not hard to see why Walman wouldn't be a massive improvement. He has six goals and 22 assists, 76 blocks, can contribute on both the power play and penalty kill and there's the potential for him and Rielly to patrol the second unit while Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev can shut down the top lines.
He's 6'1, 218 pounds and only 28 years old, so he's firmly in his prime and can contribute while Toronto is in win-now mode. He's also cheap at $3.4M, and while it's a bit of a price tag, the Leafs have ways to shed enough salary.
It's not going to be a perfect 1 for 1 swap, but Robertson fits perfectly in San Jose's plans. They are rebuilding, he'd be close to home, and could get a chance to find chemistry with rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini.
Here's what a potential trade would look like between the two teams:
To Toronto Maple Leafs
(D) Jake Walman
To San Jose Sharks
(F) Nick Robertson
2025 2nd Round Pick
2026 Conditional 5th Round Pick (Upgrades To 3rd Round If Toronto Makes Conference Finals)
It's going to cost Toronto a bit in regards to pick up Walman but the payment is worth it, and the team can shed salary with another deal involving Conor Timmins or Ryan Reaves.
Both teams already came together once to figure out the Timothy Liljegren situation, and it's something to look for again as Toronto has to figure out yet another destination for a player they seemingly have no room for.
