Maple Leafs Face Financial Dilemma with Nick Robertson's Arbitration this Summer
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a difficult financial issue regarding Nick Robertson they'll need to resolve.
Robertson has finally been able to breakout into the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, now looking like a possible full-time player in the Leafs lineup after years of bouncing back and forth between the big team and the minors.
Despite this, Robertson was largely left off of the Leafs playoff plans, only appearing in just three games for Toronto despite a goal and two points in what was ultimately a second round elimination in seven games, with Robertson having scored the game prior.
NHL Insider Nick Kypreos points out that Robertson, a pending RFA, could see himself make more than his believed projection as in minimal minutes Robertson has shown the ability to bring offense to the Leafs lineup.
Leafs winger Nick Robertson once again finds himself without a contract for next season. The 23-year-old restricted free agent is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this summer. Some have his value projected at $1.5 million for next season, but scoring 14 and 15 goals the last two seasons, respectively, could see him awarded as much as $2 million. - Nick Kypreos
Leafs Faced With Finding The Right Contract Number For Nick Robertson
The Toronto Maple Leafs will need to figure out not only what their price is to Nick Robertson, but if he's a player they see in their future.
The Leafs have struggled to give Robertson a consistent chance through an entire season as a member of the roster, and at 23, time is slowly running out.
At $1.5-2M, the Leafs would get a player who's a proven goalscorer and can provide offense on the bottom-six, a weakness of the Leafs, but also is an undersized forward who's primarily offense-oriented, making it hard to know if he's the type of player who'll be trusted by Craig Berube come playoff time.
Could A Team Offer Sheet Nick Robertson?
With the Toronto Maple Leafs seemingly unsure of its commitment to Nick Robertson in it's future, he could be a prime target for teams looking to add some offense, and take a chance of a young forward with promising production.
An offer sheet could come at a cheap cost to pry Robertson from Toronto. If the Leafs don't want to go close to $2M, another team could consider doing so.
Nick Robertson is a player who's status as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs has always been on the brink, always seeming to show promise but never able to break in to a deep roster.
Robertson being sidelined this season may be the catalyst to finally move on from Toronto, unless there is a surefire commitment he's going to play a real part in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup next season.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 5 | 478 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Face Financial Dilemma with Nick Robertson's Arbitration this Summer Should Nick Robertson be in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup full-time next season? | ||
| Yes | 194 | 40.6 % |
| No | 284 | 59.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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