The reasons why the Toronto Maple Leafs are unable to trade Nick Robertson
Chris Johnston reported that Nick Robertson, a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, has requested a trade from the team.
The Maple Leafs extended a qualifying offer to Robertson worth $813,000 against the salary cap, retaining his rights as a restricted free agent (Salary data sourced from PuckPedia.com). Last season, the 22-year-old played 56 games, tallying 14 goals and 13 assists for a total of 27 points with the Leafs (Statistics from NHL.com).
With Brad Treliving refraining from bolstering the forward group and losing Tyler Bertuzzi, Robertson is viewed as crucial for providing valuable and productive playing time.
Robertson’s Role for the Maple Leafs
During the previous season, Robertson averaged just 11:23 minutes of ice time per game under Sheldon Keefe. Among forwards, only Ryan Reaves received fewer minutes. Despite these limited opportunities and no powerplay time, Robertson’s achievement of 14 goals was notably impressive.
With Bertuzzi’s departure, the team has lost 21 goals from its lineup, and relying on Auston Matthews to replicate his 69-goal performance is unrealistic. Consequently, alternate players must contribute goals to offset this deficit.
Granting Robertson a top-six role and occasional powerplay opportunities could potentially lead to him scoring at least 20 goals in the upcoming season. His strong shooting ability indicates this potential if given increased chances.
Criticism of Robertson includes concerns about decision-making and frequent injuries. While these criticisms are valid, it’s essential to acknowledge that restricting a 22-year-old player to limited bench time impedes his ability to develop defensively or prove his capabilities.
Historically, the Maple Leafs have consistently secured playoff berths comfortably. During less significant mid-season games, Head Coach Craig Berube should provide Robertson with more playing time. This approach allows young players like Robertson, Matthew Knies, and potentially William Cowan to learn and grow, enriching their skills.
Should the Maple Leafs opt to trade Robertson, it would create another void in the lineup that requires filling. At 22 years old, with only 87 NHL games under his belt, Robertson’s potential impact remains uncertain. Addressing this situation effectively is crucial for the team’s management, ensuring clarity on the opportunities available to Robertson in the upcoming season or evaluating his commitment to a full year of development absence.
