Toronto Maple Leafs
· 2026-07-03
The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2028.
The trade reunites Robertson with Kyle Dubas, the GM who drafted him with the Leafs in the second round of the 2019 draft.
The Maple Leafs sent Robertson to the Penguins after a bumpy time with the franchise, never quite finding the role and opportunity he sought.
He had signed one-year contracts in each of the past two seasons and had multiple trade requests.
Robertson showed that he could score with the ice time he did get, managing a career-best 16 goals last season.
He is worth the bet for a Penguins team that’s trying to get younger, with Robertson turning 25 in September.
The Leafs issued a qualifying offer to Robertson on Monday, keeping his rights and netting a mid-round pick from the Penguins.
The Penguins have a couple of middle-six holes that need filled, and Robertson is someone who could potentially do that, given his skill level.
The team is trying to get younger, and Robertson's addition could be a key move, with their next game against the Montreal Canadiens on 2026-09-19.
And the Leafs, currently on a L7 streak, will look to bounce back from their 32-36 record, standing 15th in the Eastern Conference.
But for now, the focus is on the trade, and how it will impact both teams, with Robertson's brother Jason Robertson being a coveted player.
So the Penguins will look to utilize Nick Robertson's skills, and see if he can make an impact on the team.
The trade is a fresh start for Robertson, and he will look to make the most of it, with the Penguins needing people who can score.