Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Will be the First Player Traded this Season?
No. 1 Nicholas Robertson
Boy, the hope here is that Nicholas Robertson finally reaches the potential that the Leafs management believes he can achieve. Wait, that was the former guy. Treliving kind of owes Robertson nothing other than a shot to prove he can stay healthy, which has proven to be extremely difficult for the speedy winger.
If Robertson does assert himself, the Leafs will have an interesting decision to make. An injury-free Robertson could be really something for this team. He knows how to find those empty spots on the ice and has a shot heavier than a Sumo wrestler. Lots of ‘if’s’, here. On the contrary, if Robertson does show out when the season starts, the Leafs could gamble and trade him (plus a draft pick) for a young, rugged defenseman.
Right now, Robertson is on the injured reserve, so his $796,667 cap number doesn’t count. He can move down to the American Hockey League without having to clear waivers, so his value might be more for insurance.
Ultimately, it’s hard to get a read on Robertson, since he has only skated in 21 games over the passed three years for the Leafs and has averaged 10 minutes a game. The Leafs should give him some run before making a decision on his future, but this does feel like a crucial year for Robertson, so a trade could happen.
The Leafs should allow Robertson to blossom by giving him some time on one of the top two lines, but don’t be surprised if he’s the answer to a trivia question a few years from now.
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Who is the first player Treliving traded as the Leafs GM?