2 Eastern Conf. Teams Named As Nick Robertson Trade Talks Pick Up

Nick Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs forward, skates with puck

He's as much to blame as anyone, but Nick Robertson's name has been floated on the rumor mill once again in recent days, as the frustrating Toronto Maple Leafs forward continues a slow start to the season.

Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston in The Athletic have posited two Eastern Conference teams as potential destinations as trade talks have resurfaced around the 24-year-old.

Finding an interested suitor willing to pay a price that makes sense for the Maple Leafs hasn’t been easy. Two teams that might eventually fit the bill: Pittsburgh and Columbus.

Pittsburgh Penguins

We all know about the connection with Penguins GM Kyle Dubas. He's the man who drafted Robertson in the second round for Toronto back in 2019. Of course, we should point out that the player has been frustrated with his lack of opportunity with the Maple Leafs, and a majority of that time was on Dubas's watch before he left two years ago for the Penguins.

But Roberston certainly fits the profile of the type of young, NHL-ready player who just needs a fresh start that Dubas has been targeting in his rebuild efforts.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Here's a team that already has their own problem with a disgruntled forward looking for a new start elsewhere, in Yegor Chinakhov. So this could be a puzzling destination as well.

As for Robertson, he isn't doing anything this season to entice other teams to take a chance on giving him a bigger opportunity. He has just one point in six games with a minus-3 rating playing on the third line, and though it seems impossible, his ice time has actually dwindled this season, down to 11:17 per night.

With the loss of Mitch Marner this season, it would have been reasonable to expect that he might have gotten a chance to be one of those to try to hellp fill the offensive void for the Leafs, but instead, he's been passed on the depth chart by the likes of the incoming Easton Cowan and Matias Maccelli.

Overall, in part of six seasons with the Buds (two full campaigns), Robertson has 32 goals in 162 games, with 57 points. He's averaged 11:27 of ice time. He's on a one-year, $1.825 million contract and will be a restricted free agent once again next summer.