As much as I want the Toronto Maple Leafs to re-sign Nick Robertson and play him in a bigger role this season, the most logical option could be a trade with the Winnipeg Jets.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward, Nick Robertson is surprisingly still an RFA, which means he could be offer-sheeted, but most likely will either remain in Toronto or be traded. Robertson seemingly requested a trade back in June, but it hasn't been taken very seriously because he doesn't have a lot of leverage right now.
As an RFA, Robertson can essentially either sign with the Leafs or not play at all. For a player who only has 87 NHL games under his belt and hasn't lived up to expectations, it would probably be best for him to be quiet and hope a new coach will give him a bigger role. He has a world-class shot and a ton of offensive talent, but his size has always been questioned, which is why Sheldon Keefe pushed him down the line-up.
He's not the shiftiest player, like Mitch Marner, which has made him susceptible to injuries. However, if given a bigger role alongside the Leafs core-four, I do think he has a possibility to excel. However, instead of hoping, the Leafs could be intrigued to flip him for another RFA, who also is unhappy in his situation.
The Winnipeg Jets are battling with Cole Perfetti right now, who's still unsigned. Perfetti had a lot of ups and downs last year, most notably going through a 23-game goalless streak, prompting him to play on the fourth-line, putting him a very similar category to Robertson. Both Perfetti and Robertson were elite goal-scorers and point-producers at the OHL level but haven't quite lived up to it at the NHL level yet.
Trading Nick Robertson to Winnipeg may be the most logical option
Perfetti has more NHL games under his belt, but if the Leafs and Jets wanted to make a good old-fashioned hockey trade, this could be it.
Toronto may have to give up a little more, but a Perfetti for Robertson deal would make a lot of sense for both sides. Perfetti is from Whitby, ON, just down the road from Toronto, so he could be very excited to play for his hometown team, while a fresh start for Robertson could be the thing that unleashes him.
This happens all the time in professional sports, where a player is unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time and that could just be the case for Robertson. As for Perfetti, the Leafs could get a young winger on a somewhat cheap contract, who could light it up beside Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and/or Mitch Marner.
The one attribute why Perfetti may excel more in Toronto's system more than Robertson is his creativeness. Known for his great playmaking skills, highlighted by his 74 assist season in his last year of junior, Perfetti could rack up a ton of assists passing the puck to Matthews or Nylander.
Winnipeg could use a goal-scorer versus a playmaker, and we all know that Robertson loves to shoot the puck more than anything, so that could be a big benefit in Winnipeg. This is a trade that benefits both parties, as the Leafs could get a playmaker winger they need, while the Jets get a second or third-line goal-scorer they need.
GM Brad Treliving is probably still sleeping at the cottage, so he probably hasn't thought about this trade, but he better wake up and call the Jets becuase this could be a great trade for both sides.