Nick Robertson’s Maple Leafs Future Hinging on Early Chances: Report

Nick Robertson's journey with the Toronto Maple Leafs has certainly experienced all sorts of developments.

From the end of June 2024 to the start of the regular season, Robertson saw his contract expire, submitted a trade request, then put on a strong preseason, and he's now part of the Leafs' bottom-six forward lineup.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli, speaking on " The JD Bunkis Podcast ," made clear that while Robertson seems to have solidified his position in Toronto, nothing is still guaranteed for him in terms of his long-term future in Canada.

Seravalli highlighted that while Robertson's recent play has quieted trade discussions, his future with the Leafs will ultimately depend on his role and performance during the regular season.

“I think it’s really going to waver and depend on deployment and usage,” Seravalli said. “Even after the extension was signed, there were still teams interested. They even had proponents of a deal on the table.

"Then Robertson went out and had the preseason that he did, and that cooled everything off.”

After signing a one-year, $875,000 contract extension following his trade request, Robertson showcased his potential with standout preseason performances, including a two-goal game against the Detroit Red Wings.

This gave him an edge in securing a spot on Toronto’s roster for the upcoming season, a position confirmed by head coach Craig Berube, who praised Robertson’s work ethic.

“What surprised me about him is his work ethic and his competitiveness,“ Berube said before the season, via Terry Koshan . “That’s what is going to make him a real good player in this league.“

Though the situation between Robertson and the Leafs has settled for now, Seravalli remains cautious.

“Let’s see what the first few weeks or months of the season bring and where he is in the lineup,” Seravalli said.

Meanwhile, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving spoke about Robertson's preseason performances ahead of the season while appearing on Sportsnet 590 The FAN .

"He has been really good defensively, killing penalties, and also producing offensively with goals," Treliving said.

Robertson has appeared in all three regular-season games played by the Maple Leafs through Tuesday posting a 1 plus-minus over 36:43 minutes of playing time.

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