Toronto Maple Leafs back Nick Robertson into a corner as he runs out of options

PUBLICATION

River Hawk
September 6, 2024 (9:13)

SHARE THIS STORY

After asking to be traded from the team weeks ago, reports indicate that the Toronto Maple Leafs have backed Nick Robertson into a corner as he runs out of signing options.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are close to their cap space limit, with two players still unsigned. One of these two, Nick Robertson, made it clear several weeks ago that he wanted to be traded away from the team. Despite the quickly approaching 2024-25 season,the 22-year-old RFA has made it clear to TSN's Chris Johnston that he still wants to play elsewhere in the league, hoping he can get a shot at some real top-six forward ice time.

"I think, obviously, at this stage of the summer, the Leafs are still working through what happens with Nick Robertson, but there's a pretty clear path for him to be part of the mix at left wing, to potentially have a role that exceeds what he's had in the past.

But at this stage, Nick Robertson doesn't seem inclined to sign in Toronto and is sticking to the idea that he'd like to play somewhere else. And so I think they have to kind of sort that out first or as part of this."

However, recent reports indicate it may be harder to get off the roster than previously thought. According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Nick Robertson has less leverage than he and his agent Pat Brisson would have hoped. He then shared the example of Martin Necas who, after asking for a trade, re-signed with the Carolina Hurricanes simply because it was the best deal he could get as an RFA.

"He still would prefer a change of address, but it's been slow going on that file. You know, he's got a pretty powerful agent in Pat Brisson, but checking with a couple of different people involved today, he's training back home and waiting for a resolution, but the process certainly hasn't moved along as his camp would like, so we'll see where that goes[...]

It's still early. Deadlines tend to spur signings but... he doesn't have a lot of leverage.

I don't know that nothing can be done. We've seen elsewhere this offseason where players who were asking for a change of scenery and then ended up signing. Martin Necas is example number one. When you're an RFA there's only so much you can do. But checking in yesterday, moving on is his top desire."

With such a short time left before the 2024-25 season starts, the chances of Nick Robertson finding a new home in the league seem further away than he and Toronto fans may like.

Yet, with only Matthew Knies as an NHL-level player registered as a left-wing forward on the Maple Leafs roster, he may get the bigger role he was hoping for anyway, just with the wrong team.