Adam Proteau: Nick Robertson Could Land with the Vegas Golden Knights

Ian Chin
3 Min Read
Apr 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson (89) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs have no plans to trade Nick Robertson despite the player’s reported request for a trade. Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving has expressed his desire to retain Robertson, viewing him as an essential player for the team’s future.

Treliving stated, “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.” He acknowledged Robertson’s frustration but emphasized the team’s intention to move forward with the young player.

Despite the Maple Leafs’ stance, trade rumors have been circulating, with the Vegas Golden Knights mentioned as a potential destination for Robertson. The Golden Knights are reportedly interested in acquiring Robertson to bolster their forward group, especially after losing several key players in free agency, including Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, and Anthony Mantha.

Adam Proteau of The Hockey News suggests a trade to Vegas could benefit both teams. He proposes that the Golden Knights offer one of their second-round draft picks or a decent prospect in exchange for Robertson. This move would potentially give Vegas a 20-25-goal scorer without affecting their NHL roster while allowing Toronto to move on from an unhappy player and open up a roster spot for younger prospects.

Nick Robertson, a 22-year-old forward, was drafted 53rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL draft[4]. Despite his potential, Robertson’s NHL career has been hampered by injuries and limited playing time. Over four seasons, he has played in 87 regular season games, recording 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points.

Robertson is a restricted free agent and reportedly has no plans to re-sign with the Maple Leafs. His frustration stems from a lack of consistent playing time in Toronto, leading to his trade request. If he were to stay with the Maple Leafs, Robertson could potentially slot in as the team’s second-line left winger.

The Vegas Golden Knights, meanwhile, have had a relatively quiet offseason due to salary cap constraints. They currently have just over $1.3 million in cap space, which limits their ability to make significant moves. However, the potential addition of a young, skilled forward like Robertson could help address some of the losses they’ve experienced in free agency.

Ian Chin is a seasoned digital executive and entrepreneur with over 30 years of professional experience, including more than 25 years in the internet industry. He is the Co-Founder, Managing Director, and President of Medium Large Digital Sports Media, a sports community that reaches over 6 million unique monthly users across multiple channels. Chin oversees all aspects of Medium Large and runs its day-to-day operations. He has been in this role since 2012. Originally from New York City, Chin has lived and worked abroad in The Netherlands, Sweden, Venezuela, and Gibraltar. He now resides in Orange County, CA. His sports interests include hockey (Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks), baseball (Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox), and golf. He occasionally contributes to GoldenKnightsNation.com, KrakenNation.com, and DodgerBlue.com.
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