HUGE CONFLICT: Maple Leaf In Huge Disagreement With Both Player and Staffs Over The Unwarranted Trade of Leaf Best Winger

Nick Robertson, a Toronto Maple Leafs winger, has not had an easy route to the NHL. The 22-year-old has dealt with serious injuries that have hampered his NHL career, and even when he was healthy, there hasn’t been a good match for him as a top-six forward in Toronto. So few were shocked when news surfaced last week that Robertson had sought a trade; he plainly does not see a long-term fit with the Leafs, and his frustrations have bubbled over to the point that he now wants out of the franchise that chose him at No. 53 overall in 2019. If the Leafs’ relationship with Robertson cannot be repaired, where is the best spot for him to be traded so that the deal benefits both teams and the player? Let’s have a look at some possible destinations for him.

1. San Jose Sharks. Robertson is from California, and the Sharks need aid in almost every area. If San Jose was ready to trade a second-round draft pick (the Leafs don’t have one until 2027) and a mid-tier prospect, would that suffice for Leafs GM Brad Treliving? The Leafs would save salary room in this type of move, allowing them to do other things with their squad, while the Sharks would add a young player to join budding prodigy forward Will Smith and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini. Robertson would undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to play closer to home, and the Leafs would not have to worry about being haunted by him if he was sent to a divisional opponent.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets are in the early stages of another big reconstruction, so there will be some roster jumbling. If Columbus General Manager Don Waddell trades veteran forward Boone Jenner, a slot in the Jackets’ top-six would become available, and the burden on Robertson would be significantly reduced in a sleepy hockey media market like Ohio. Again, if you consider what Toronto would receive in exchange, you’re looking at a high draft pick and possibly a decent prospect. Robertson would have a fresh start in Columbus, and the Leafs would only face the Jackets a few times per season. This is a nice fit for both the Leafs and Blue Jackets, with Toronto refilling their draft capital and Columbus gaining a strong long-term player in Robertson.