Maple Leafs & Blue Jackets Could Swap Young Forwards

The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to trade Yegor Chinakhov at one point as he appears to be looking for a different opportunity and can't choose himself yet due to being a RFA. At the same time, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been reworking their forward group this offseason and have made a number of good moves.

Now that they have signed Nick Robertson, he can be dealt while already under contract. His name has been floating around the trade market this offseason, but there is some worry that his age-related upside will show once he's moved.

This creates an opportunity to swap young talents for both to get a fresh start. Especially with the Maple Leafs still shopping David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, there will be a place for Chinakhov in the lineup every night. But what Elliotte Friedman had to say about a potential trade between the two teams involving Chinakhov and Robertson was "I think Toronto would have to do more to get that done."

I think that is very reasonable and doable for the Maple Leafs. Robertson hasn't been given the proper opportunity for him to grow into the player that he can be. He would be able to on a younger Columbus team with a little more readily available space.

Chinakhov is going into the second year of a two-year deal at $2.1 million AAV and Robertson is on a one-year, $1.825 million AAV deal. Both will be 24 years old when next season starts and both have offensive upside. Chinakhov scored seven goals and 15 points in 30 games last season and put up 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games the season prior. He also plays somewhat physically. Robertson averages about three fewer minutes per game than Chinakhov, but scored 15 goals and 22 points in 69 games last season while playing just as physically.

In my opinion, if Robertson is given the same middle-6 minutes that Chinakhov gets, he will be more productive, but the Maple Leafs' lineup doesn't have the space for that unless both Kampf and Jarnkrok are moved before the season. If this move is made, the Maple Leafs would be giving Chinakhov less ice time and opportunity than with the Blue Jackets, but possibly better linemates to produce. This trade is riskier for Toronto for sure, especially paying a little extra to swap young forwards, but the Blue Jackets would likely be on board given their circumstances with Chinakhov.