Toronto Maple Leafs swap Nick Robertson for former No. 2 overall pick in latest mock trade
The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to move on from Nick Robertson, and this latest trade pitch has them doing so by acquiring a former top pick in New York Kappo Kakko.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs have made some huge moves this off-season, they still have a few more major issues to deal with, and one of those is the reported trade request from rising star Nick Robertson. Despite playing in his first full NHL season a year ago, Robertson remains frustrated with his role in Toronto, and despite the team sticking by him through his injury issues, he wants a bigger opportunity elsewhere.
It's unclear how much interest there has been in Robertson around the league, but now, an intriguing trade proposal has surfaced that would see the team move Robertson, along with an additional draft pick, to acquire former No. 2 overall pick Kaapo Kakko from the New York Rangers.
Kaapo Kakko
Rangers acquire:
Nick Robertson
2024 fourth-round pick
On paper, this would be a good deal for both teams, as it allows New York to get a player that could one day end up being better than Kakko, while the Maple Leafs use two very invaluable assets to acquire a player that could thrive in a larger role.
In theory, the Maple Leafs could potentially look for draft picks instead in a return for Robertson, as it would give them more flexibility leading up to the deadline, but if they could find a way to get Kakko, who has played in 300 NHL games and scored 31 goals over his past two years, he could be perfect in a bottom-six role alongside some very capable veterans.
At this point, there's no reason for Toronto to try and keep Robertson around, especially if they don't have a specific role ready for him, and if that's the case, they should look to move on, and acquiring Kakko could be a low-risk, potentially high-return move for Brad Treliving ahead of the 2024/25 season.
| POLL | ||
Who would win this trade proposal between the Maple Leafs and the Rangers? | ||
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 209 | 60.9 % |
| New York Rangers | 134 | 39.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
