The Maple Leafs extended the forward a qualifying offer on Sunday.
The Maple Leafs extended the forward a qualifying offer on Sunday.
If Nick Robertson has his way, he's played his last game as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Robertson has informed the club that he would like to be traded and has no plans to sign a new contract with the club.
To say Robertson's tenure with the Maple Leafs has been turbulent would be an understatement. Drafted by the club in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, the forward rose up in the ranks to make his NHL Debut during the team's 2020 playoffs inside the COVID bubble. But injuries got in the way of his development. And when he was healthy, Robertson was often a victim of the team's salary cap gymnastics.
In 2022, Robertson was arguably one of Toronto's best forwards during training camp, but due to roster and cap limitations, he was sent down to the Toronto Marlies for asset management. He was called back up after defenseman Jake Muzzin was placed on long-term injured reserve with a neck injury.
Last season, Robertson found some consistency in the NHL playing a stretch of games every night on the team's third line. But in March, he was sent down to the Toronto Marlies (although he didn't report and instead worked on the ice with the team's return-to-play staff) when space had to be made for Calle Jarnkrok's return from a hand injury.
Robertson was off the Leafs' roster for 10 days and broke his silence on the matter when he was recalled ahead of the team's picture day.
"I understand it but I’m not going to sit here and say that I’m happy," Robertson said following practice at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. "I want to play, but I understand my contract situation. Obviously, if it wasn’t the way it was maybe it would be a different situation but it is what it is.
Some of it has been luck with injuries, and while there is no ill intent from the Leafs, it's clear Robertson wasn't pleased with how things went down.
Robertson played in six of the team's playoff games against the Boston Bruins during their first-round exit but was a healthy scratch for the team's crucial Game 7 contest. It's not clear if that had anything to do with Robertson's reported request.
The Maple Leafs extended Robertson a qualifying offer on Sunday to retain his rights. The 22-year-old doesn't have any arbitration rights and will need either a trade or an offer sheet to force Toronto's hands.
Robertson had 14 goals and 13 assists in 56 games last season. He's played a total of 87 regular season games over four years.
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