Nick Robertson Reportedly Files for Arbitration: What It Means for His Future with the Maple Leafs

With having not yet received a contract for the 2025-26 season, RFA forward Nicholas Robertson has filed for arbitration in order to work a deal out via a third party.

The news was relayed by salary cap site PuckPedia.

Robertson, 23, had 22 points for the Maple Leafs last season.

The ongoing saga on Robertson is in and of itself quite the story. Initially all gung-ho for the team, he saw his minutes dip and a bit of a falling out with Sheldon Keefe, and led to him requesting a trade last summer.

The Maple Leafs were not too keen on trading a player with such potential, even if he's incredibly streaky, and Robertson relented and signed a one-year deal, hoping to translate a solid preseason into a strong 2024-25 campaign.

However that wasn't meant to be as Robertson was ice cold to start the season, and though he was able to pick it up at times, was relegated to the bottom half of the lineup most of the time, and didn't show signs of much improvement.

He did although find a new lease on life under Craig Berube in terms of the physicality department, as he was clearly playing with more edge, throwing more hits, finishing every check, and relentlessly trying to hound the opposition.

Going to arbitration means that Robertson is trying to earn at least a fair pay day, even if he had another inconsistent year. This past season he made $875,000 and could very well be looking to double that on a new deal.

The Maple Leafs would more than likely still try and gauge what they have in Robertson, and would more than ideally want him to sign another low deal.

Toronto could rush things for the sake of it by just giving Robertson what he wants, but with a dwindling cap and the need to add another top-six body into the mix, it's going to be hard to do that.

Robertson might also be giving the team some leverage too, as they can look at him trying to squeeze them for more money as a disrespectful tactic and could be privy to get a trade going; and for a player like Robertson, there may be teams that bite on that offer.