Maple Leafs Lowball Nick Robertson in Arbitration, Player Wants Nearly Double
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs are presenting Nicholas Robertson with a very low offer in arbitration while the forward wants a huge payday.
With only Nick Robertson left to figure out his arbitration, we have a bit more information at least regarding the numbers both sides want to come to; and there's a huge discrepancy.
Elliotte Friedman Reveals Major Gap Between Leafs and Robertson
Per Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs are looking to offer Robertson a $1.2-million AAV meanwhile the forward wants a staggering $2.25-million; nearly double what Toronto is offering and nearly the same as Anthony Stolarz.
It's a stark contrast in Toronto trying to gauge what they actually have in Robertson, and him believing that he deserves a near $2-million increase; and while he was decent at points he hasn't shown he can consistently bring the offense.
In 69 games, he registered 22 points (15 goals, 7 assists) and a minus-1 rating.
For many fans, they think the number Robertson is asking for is a bit egregious given his history.
Why This Arbitration Standoff Could Impact the Leafs' Season
Well, first and foremost, Toronto needs to pause whatever other offseason plans they had until they figure out what they are going to pay Robertson.
If he gets that $2.25-million then that basically wipes out the rest of the cap, and Toronto is going to have to either trade a name like David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok to create some type of space, or just pray Robertson picks it up this season.
He also might be harder to trade too, considering teams might not want to pay him that much for inconsistent play; Toronto's in even tougher now.
A lineup with Robertson is only going to see him in the bottom-six, and more than likely on the third line which could benefit him massively, so there is a silver lining.
He never had a true 3C to work with and now gets one in Nic Roy, plus with Dakota Joshua flanking him he'll get that open space and perhaps a bit more confidence.
But pushing an already quieter offseason for Toronto even longer into August due to the case actually being heard is going to give fans even more anxiety.
The team has to hope he's going to pick things up and thankfully he seemed to find his footing a bit towards the end of last season, though we saw how a blistering preseason doesn't mean much for Robertson.
August 3rd is when things go to the arbitrator, and unless things get settled in the next day or so; the Maple Leafs offseason just got a whole lot more interesting (and stressful no doubt).
More details to come.
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AOUT 1 | 1284 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Lowball Nick Robertson in Arbitration, Player Wants Nearly Double Who do you think will win the arbitration case? | ||
| Toronto | 703 | 54.8 % |
| Nick Robertson | 581 | 45.2 % |
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