Nick Robertson, a winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, did not have an easy journey to the NHL. When healthy, the 22-year-old struggled with serious ailments that limited his NHL career, and Toronto didn’t seem to be the right fit for him as a top-six forward.
Few were therefore shocked to learn last week that Robertson had made a trade request. Maybe he doesn’t think the Leafs are a long-term fit for him, and he could fit in better with another team than the one that selected him with the 53rd overall pick in the 2019 draft. In the event that the Leafs and Robertson are unable to work things out, where would be the ideal spot to trade him so that it would benefit both parties? Let’s consider some possible places he might go:
Robertson is a native of California, and the Sharks could use some assistance in almost every department. Would Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving be satisfied if San Jose was prepared to part with, say, a second-round draft pick (the Leafs don’t have a second-round pick until 2027) and a mid-tier prospect?
The Sharks would add a young player to go along with developing star forward Will Smith and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini, while the Leafs would be able to do other things with their squad thanks to the cap money they would save in this kind of deal. Robertson would probably be drawn to the opportunity to play closer to home, and the Leafs wouldn’t have to worry about him haunting them if they sent him to a divisional rival team.