Nick Robertson: The Odd Man Out in Toronto?

0 Diana khan October 18, 2025

The rumor mill is churning, and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson is at the center of the storm. NHL insider Chris Johnston has thrown a couple of potential trade destinations out there: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets. As someone who has watched Robertson’s development closely, I can’t say I’m surprised. He’s a talented kid with a nose for the net, but he’s been caught in a numbers game with the Leafs.

A Dubas Reunion in Pittsburgh?

The Pittsburgh Penguins link is an obvious one. Kyle Dubas, the former Leafs GM who drafted Robertson, is now at the helm in Pittsburgh. He knows Robertson’s potential better than anyone. The Penguins are in a transitional phase, looking to get younger and faster. Robertson, at 24, fits that mold perfectly. A change of scenery could be just what he needs to finally break out and become the top-six scorer many projected him to be. From the Penguins’ perspective, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move. They’d be acquiring a player with a high ceiling for what would likely be a mid-round draft pick. For Robertson, a fresh start away from the pressure cooker of Toronto could be the best thing for his career.

Columbus: A Less Likely Suitor

The Columbus Blue Jackets are a more interesting, and in my opinion, less likely destination. As Johnston noted, they already have a logjam of wingers. Yegor Chinakhov, a player with a similar profile to Robertson, can’t even crack their lineup consistently. So, where would Robertson fit? Unless injuries decimate their forward corps, it’s hard to see a clear path to playing time for him in Columbus. While it never hurts for a GM to kick the tires on a skilled young player, I just don’t see the fit here. The Blue Jackets need help down the middle, not on the wing.

My take is this: the Leafs would be foolish to trade Nick Robertson for a draft pick. With the inevitable injuries that will pop up during an 82-game season, having a player of his caliber as a depth forward is a luxury most teams don’t have. Unless the Leafs completely fall out of playoff contention, which is highly unlikely, keeping Robertson in the fold is the smart move. He’s a valuable insurance policy and, if he can stay healthy, could still be a key contributor down the stretch.