Nick Robertson ends hold-out, signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Nick Robertson.

After a summer-long and ill-advised hold-out, the Toronto Maple Leafs second round draft pick has ended his embargo and signed a contract.

Robertson will suit up for the Leafs this year for $875K, then become a free-agent all over again next summer.

This ends the second-most important contract situation facing the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nick Robertson ends hold-out, signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs

This is a good outcome for all involved: Nick Robertson isn't in a position to miss training camp, and the Leafs, who already lost and didn't replace Tyler Bertuzzi, need the scoring. (all stats from naturalstattrick.com).

The Leafs - thanks to Treliving refusing to operate by the rules of the Studs and Duds Salary Cap Strategy that he inherited, have no cap space and several holes on their roster.

One of those holes was on the wing, and adding Nick Robertson at a league minimum deal is extremely good for the team. Robertson has an elite motor, he works incredibly hard and has an elite shot. Every player in the history of the OHL who scored as much as he did, at the age he did it at, has a 40 goal NHL season to their name, and Robertson has that much potential.

The only problem with this deal is that if Robertson breaks out, the Leafs won't be scoring any team-friendly years off of a single-year contract. However, considering he wanted to fully leave the organization, I think we should just be happy that he' staying.

Robertson, due to his injury history, has next to no trade value, so signing him was imperative because he's one of the best prospects the team has and their minor league stockpile is mid-teird at best.

With Robertson the Leafs look a lot more dangerous on the wing. Marner, Nylander, Domi, and Knies should get the top-six roles, but a Robertson-Holmbgerg-McMann line is incredibly fun and has a ton of potential.

In fact, Robertson played just under half his minutes with Holmberg last year and his numbers were better with him than anyone else. People criticize Robertson's defense, but until his most common linemate isn't league-worst defender Max Domi, people should cut him a break.

Robertson also has a shot at the top-six, especially if the Leafs smartly try to stretch their lineup by having Matthews, Nylander and Marner on different lines, which they 100% should.

Either way, it's great that Robertson isn't leaving and you have to give the Leafs credit for managing this situation perfectly. A job well done.