Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro – USA Today Sports

Considered a steal at 53rd overall in the 2019 draft, Nick Robertson had the potential to be a difference maker for the Maple Leafs, but injuries have really hampered his development.

Four years ago yesterday, on August 6, 2020, Nick Robertson scored his first career NHL goal in a playoff game in front of no one, except for his teammates. In doing so, he became the first 18-year-old to score a post-season goal for the Maple Leafs in 76 years and the future looked bright for the now 22-year-old. Unfortunately, a string of injury riddled seasons has severely impacted his development, leading to a lack of playing time under former bench boss Sheldon Keefe.

Questions surrounding Robertson’s durability have persisted for a number of years, and during the 2022-23 season, just as it seemed as though he was preparing for a healthy campaign, an awkward hit from then LA Kings defenseman Matt Roy led to a serious shoulder injury for Robertson, which ultimately derailed the remainder of his season.

Over parts of four seasons, he totalled just 87 games, but he took a big step forward this past season as he skated in 56 games with the club, finishing with 14 goals and 27 points. Unfortunately, due to him being waivers exempt, and not fully earning the trust of Keefe defensively, it led to Robertson being in and out of the lineup. The lack of playing time and opportunity led Robertson to request a trade, in search of a fresh start at the beginning of July.

The Leafs and Brad Treliving believe that Robertson has a significant opportunity in front of him with a new coach in Craig Berube, with the Leafs now lacking some depth on the wing thanks to the departure of Tyler Bertuzzi. While there does not appear to be any immediate solution, he remains unsigned.

The preference from the team appears to be to retain the player who they’ve stuck by through thick and thin as he has tried to navigate his way through his young professional career. Still, when a player wants out, it’s often difficult to convince him to stay.

It would be more shocking to see the Leafs trade the prominent junior goal scorer than to see him at training camp in September, especially if the Leafs see a clear role for him with the NHL club come opening night.

Nobody knows quite how this saga will end yet, but I’d imagine that Treliving and company will take at least one more healthy run at signing Robertson before they throw in the towel and give into his trade request. The best solution for all sides here is probably to have Robertson sign a 1-year or 2-year extension and give him a legitimate run in the top-6 to showcase what he can do.

If this is the route the Leafs and Robertson choose to go, the player may find himself a lot more comfortable with his situation, playing an important role on a really good team, perhaps leading to him actually rescinding his trade request. Conversely, if he does perform well, it could also boost his trade value significantly, which would allow for a better trade return for the Maple Leafs if a trade does end up being the outcome here.

Time will tell how this all develops, but I think you might have been hard-pressed to find anyone back on August 6th, 2020 who would have looked at Robertson’s first career playoff goal and projected that we’d end up where we are now, in a tumultuous situation between the team and the player that has led to a trade request and a contract holdout deep into the summer with a clearer path to the NHL more available to him in Toronto than ever before.