If Keefe Won’t Play Robertson, It’s Time for the Maple Leafs to Trade Him

Has the Nick Robertson experiment failed for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Obviously not.  Nick Robertson may be having some trouble cracking the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup permanently, but it should be hard for a rookie to crack a contending lineup.

Robertson has been a healthy-scratch for the better half of the season, which as Sheldon Keefe has repeatedly said, has more to do with the rest of the lineup than it does with Robertson.

Robertson had a great training camp and seemed to have made the team, but the continuing presence of Alex Kerfoot makes it hard to establish himself in a scoring role. In the bottom six,  Calle Jarnkrork, Zach Aston-Reece, Pierre Engval, David Kampf, Denis Malgin and now Pontus Holmberg are earning regular minutes as well, giving Sheldon Keefe no obvious spot to use Robertson.

What Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Do With Nick Robertson?

Holmberg’s ability to play centre and bottom-six minutes has given him the start over Robertson, who’s best attribute is top-six skill.

From Keefe’s perspective, it makes a ton of sense.

Holmberg is probably a better all-around player than Robertson, although he doesn’t possess as much natural-talent. Robertson’s offensive upside is better, but at the same time, does Toronto really need that extra burst from a 21-year-old who only has seven career NHL points.

Robertson is such an intriguing prospect and nothing is guaranteed at the NHL-level so I don’t feel bad for him, especially since Toronto is playing so well without him in the line-up.

However, if I look at the Leafs roster, I think they still need one more top-six winger. They obviously need help defensively because of the injuries but if this team is completely healthy, I think the biggest place they need help is offensively.

Michael Bunting, Alex Kerfoot and Calle Jarnkrok are fine options in the top-six with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, but the Leafs could use some more star power in that position for sure.

If Robertson can’t fill that role, then it might be time to trade him.

It’s Time to Trade Nick Robertson

Robertson’s trade value is still high, but if he continues to be shut out of the Leafs line-up or if he can’t perform at the NHL level when given an opportunity, that value will only fall.

I’m not a fan of trading a 21-year-old who could arguably have one of the best shots in the entire NHL already, especially when production on an entry-level contract is basically priceless.

However, the Toronto Maple Leafs are Stanley Cup contenders and if Robertson isn’t helping right now, then he’s likely better used as an asset to get someone who can.  Having Matthews Knies in reserve makes Robertson more expendable than he otherwise might be.

Matthews and Nylander are two years away from being UFA’s , while Marner and Tavares are three years away. As such, the window is now and it’s going to be closed before we know it.

Toronto needs to ask themselves one question right now: “Is Robertson the difference from winning a Cup for the Leafs this year or next?”

If the answer is “no” (which I think it is), than the decision is simple: trade Robertson for a player who can help them now.

I’d vote for that player to be a top-six forward, but if it’s a top-four defenseman instead, so be it.

Robertson is still a top-three prospect in the Leafs system and if they can improve their chances at winning a Stanley Cup this year by trading him, they need to do it.

Playing 10 minutes per night five times a month and sitting in the press box for the other days is not helping his development. It’s time to play him or trade him.