Toronto Maple Leafs trade incoming per insider

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Daniel Lucente
September 20, 2024 (11:16)

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The Maple Leafs have a shortage of draft picks at next year's NHL Entry Draft, particularly with no first-rounder. A trade involving Nick Robertson and Connor Timmins will solve all those problems per insider.

The Toronto Maple Leafs head into the 2024-25 NHL season with very high expectations and, as seemingly is always the case, with a complicated salary cap situation. While the Leafs will balance their roster toward opening night, there are some tough decisions looming around the team's young players, including Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins. With a full roster, especially now that Max Pacioretty is expected to join the team, and with few draft picks, these skilled players could be dealt for draft capital to help the team with salary cap issues and to fortify the prospects for the future, as per an NHL insider.

The Leafs have been known for having a star-studded roster, anchored by players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. However, the challenge is the fit of those big contracts under the salary cap while sustaining a competitive supporting cast, an issue that has always haunted general manager Brad Treliving. There is simply no place on the left wing for Nick Robertson, which already includes Matthew Knies, Max Domi, Easton Cowan, and now Max Pacioretty.

This year has been no different, with Toronto inching toward the salary cap ceiling after offseason moves that include signing Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Tanev, Anthony Stolarz, Steven Lorentz, and now Max Pacioretty. Such moves certainly help the Leafs in their immediate quest for contention but further complicate things in regard to the salary cap, placing added pressure on Toronto to move some of their younger, cost-controlled assets.

Nick Robertson, 23, was always considered a player with immense potential. The 53rd overall draft selection in 2019 showed plenty of scoring ability in junior hockey and has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited Maple Leafs time. So far, that development has been derailed by injury. Persistent shoulder injuries, among other ailments, have gotten in the way of Robertson taking over a full-time NHL role.

He still possesses value both as a young, gifted, and offensive forward. The Leafs, though, are deep up front, especially with the addition of Max Pacioretty, who is expected to make the team, so it's not as clear where he fits in for the team at this juncture. Trading him to a team that can afford to give him the ice time and space he needs to develop his game, in exchange for picks, may end up being a win-win for him and the organization alike.

Conor Timmins, acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2022-23 season, has shown promise as a reliable defenseman with offensive upside. He brings size, puck-moving ability, and a right-handed shot to a Maple Leafs' blue line that's already packed with talent, especially with the additions of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev. There simply is no room to fit Timmins on the Leafs blue line.

Setting up possible trades for Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins is the way to fix the Leafs' draft situation. With a series of trades to remain competitive in the short term, the Leafs have left themselves with very few draft picks in the coming 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Right now, they're without some big, key selections, such as no first-round pick, which is a big problem for an organization trying to stay competitive.

By shipping out Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins, the Leafs can bring in several draft picks that will serve to replenish the pool. The team can also look to acquire top prospects too, as another alternative. The goal is to remain competitive long-term. It is never easy on the fans, but it is just a simple reality. Building draft capital is crucial for long-term success, and those moves would grant the team some much-needed breathing room going forward in their roster construction.

This would be a win-win scenario for everyone. The Leafs would be competitive now, they would alleviate salary cap issues, they'd collect draft picks and prospects for the future, and fulfill Nick Robertson's trade request. What could go wrong, right Leafs fans?

As the Leafs go into training camp and begin to solidify their roster, the focus will continue to be on what the future holds for both Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins. Whether it be with them beginning the year in Toronto or by being moved for assets, the upcoming weeks will be a pivotal point in setting the direction of the franchise.