Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson reportedly asked for a trade. If so, three NHL teams in particular could benefit from making that trade a reality, says Adam Proteau.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson has not had an easy road to the NHL. 

The 22-year-old has dealt with significant injuries that hamstrung his NHL tenure, and when he was healthy, there hasn’t been a proper fit for him as a top-six forward in Toronto. 

So it surprised few when reports popped up last week that Robertson has requested a trade. Perhaps he doesn’t see a long-term fit with the Leafs, and he could find a better fit elsewhere than the organization that drafted him at No. 53 overall in 2019.

If the relationship between the Leafs and Robertson can’t be mended, where’s the best place he can be moved to in which the deal makes sense for both the teams and the player? Let’s look at a few potential destinations for him:

San Jose Sharks

Robertson is a California native, and the Sharks are in dire need of help in just about every area. If San Jose was willing to give up, say, a second-round draft pick – the Leafs don’t have their own second-rounder until 2027 – and a mid-tier prospect, would that be enough for Leafs GM Brad Treliving? 

The cap space the Leafs would save in this type of deal allows Toronto to do other things with their roster, and the Sharks would add a young piece to go along with budding phenom forward Will Smith and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini. The chance to play closer to home would likely appeal to Robertson, and the Leafs wouldn’t have to worry about being haunted by him if they moved him to a divisional rival team.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets are in the early stages of another major rebuild, and that means there’s still going to be some jumbling within the roster. If Columbus GM Don Waddell deals veteran forward Boone Jenner, a spot in the Jackets’ top-six would open up, and the pressure on Robertson would not be nearly so onerous in a quiet hockey media market like Ohio. 

Again, if you’re talking about what Toronto would get back in return, you’re looking at a high draft pick and perhaps a decent prospect. Robertson would get his fresh start in Columbus, and the Leafs would play the Jackets only a couple of times per season. This is a solid match for both the Leafs and Blue Jackets, with Toronto restocking their draft capital, and Columbus adding a valuable long-term piece in Robertson

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights are currently over the salary cap ceiling, but that hasn’t stopped proactive GM Kelly McCrimmon from making major moves before. And landing Robertson would give Vegas a boost in their middle-six group of forwards. The Leafs would be satisfied with one of the Golden Knights’ second-rounders (they have all three second-rounders in the next three drafts), and Robertson would be much closer to home than he is in Toronto. 

The Leafs might settle for a decent prospect instead of a draft pick, but whatever the case may be, Vegas would be adding a potential 20-25-goal-scorer without taking anything off the NHL roster, and Toronto would dispose of an unhappy camper and open up a roster spot for a youngster such as Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten. It’s a win-win for both teams, and that’s the kind of deal that often gets made in hockey’s best league.