The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a dilemma with skilled forward who has requested a trade. If the team doesn’t act soon, they risk losing him to an offer sheet.
Earlier this offseason, multiple sources, including Chris Johnston, reported that Nick Robertson had expressed his desire to be traded rather than re-sign with the Leafs. Despite this, Leafs GM Brad Treliving has indicated that the team believes Robertson has a promising future in Toronto, and they are keen to keep the 22-year-old, who had a career-best season in 2023-24 with 14 goals and 27 points in 56 games.
However, over a month has passed with little progress, and recent league developments might lead to Robertson being targeted with an offer sheet.
The Edmonton Oilers, who reached the Stanley Cup Finals last season, recently faced a similar situation. The St. Louis Blues offered sheets to forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg, which is rare in the NHL. With their tight salary cap, the Oilers chose not to match the offers, receiving a third-round pick for Holloway and a second-round pick for Broberg. They then made moves to acquire Vasily Podkolzin and Ty Emberson.
This trend could prompt other teams to use offer sheets as a strategy, potentially putting the Leafs in a tough spot. Toronto’s cap situation is tight, with only about $1.25 million available. Robertson is unlikely to accept an offer sheet that low, as the Leafs could easily match it, forcing him to stay with a team he wants to leave.
If Robertson does sign an offer sheet, it’s likely to be closer to the $2.29 million AAV that Holloway received, which would result in a third-round pick as compensation. Given Robertson’s superior performance compared to Holloway, he might command a higher offer. An offer sheet above $2.29 million but below $4.581 million would yield a second-round pick, while a higher amount would require multiple picks, including first-rounders.
The Leafs might find it hard to accept a compensation package as low as a third or second-round pick. Robertson has the potential to become a top-six forward and could be a valuable long-term asset. Accepting future picks instead of getting immediate value through a trade doesn’t align with the Leafs’ current focus on winning now.
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