Report: Maple Leafs Restricted Free Agent Nick Robertson 'Still Would Prefer A Change Of Address'
Robertson reportedly requested a trade away from the Maple Leafs back in June and hasn't changed his stance.
NHL training camps are set to open later this month and one of the biggest questions for the Toronto Maple Leafs is the status of restricted free agent Nick Robertson.
The 22-year-old is a restricted free agent. Despite camps opening soon, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports that the forward hasn't backed away from his despite to be traded.
"Well, the latest there is that I'm told that he still would prefer a change of address, but it's been slow going on that file," LeBrun told TSN Radio's OverDrive show on Thursday. "He's got a pretty powerful agent in Pat Brisson. But checking with a couple of different people involved today, he's training back home and waiting for a resolution. But the process certainly hasn't moved along as fast, I think, as his camp would like. So we'll see where that goes."
Robertson is a restricted free agent. Shortly after the Maple Leafs extended him a qualifying offer, TSN's Chris Johnston reported that Robertson made it clear he had no intention of signing with Toronto and requested a trade.
Selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round (53rd) overall at the 2019 NHL Draft, Robertson's tenure started with a high, making his NHL debut in the 2020 NHL playoffs before injuries and roster limitations slowed his development.
During the 2023-24 season, Robertson appeared to break through, finding himself in a stretch where he played regularly on a third line. But salary-cap management saw the player spend 10 days off the roster, to which the player voiced his displeasure about the situation.
Shortly after Robertson's trade request was made public, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving spoke with reporters following the NHL free agency.
"I obviously have known that there was some frustration with Nick on his behalf," Treliving said. "We look at Nick as an excellent player and there's a great opportunity for Nick here and we need him to be a good player for us."
When will the Robertson situation get resolved?
Being a restricted free agent gives Robertson little leverage in the situation. And there's little incentive from the Maple Leafs to move on the player's rights without adequate return. As far as opportunity for Robertson that Treliving was alluding to, the Maple Leafs don't appear set in terms of left-wing options this season and if Robertson stays there could be a chance for him to get an everyday role while getting a fresh start under new head coach Craig Berube.
But it's not until training camps open and games begin to get played will the pressure start to get tighter from both sides to figure something out.
"It's still early. I mean, the puck doesn't drop for real for another month. And, you know, deadlines tend to spur on signing this month," LeBrun said. "But I always caution people that a lot of these go right down to the wire. And that includes the Nick Robertson situation. There's certainly no guarantee that he actually gets moved. I mean, he doesn't have a lot of leverage in that situation."
The final deadline for something to resolve itself would be on Dec. 1. If Robertson isn't signed to an NHL contract by then, he is ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.
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