Insider Reveals Truth Behind Maple Leafs' Forward Contract Extension

After a summer full of rumors following a trade request on July 1, Nicholas Robertson ended up re-signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a one-year deal.

The path to re-signing with the team, however, was not as straightforward as many may have thought.

According to TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, Robertson came to his senses only after he had an honest conversation with his agent, Pat Brisson. LeBrun revealed the whole development while speaking on TSN's OverDrive on September 12 .

As told by LeBrun, after months of waiting for a potential trade, Brisson told Robertson, “They tried to trade you all summer and I’ve tried to help them find you a team, and it’s just not out there.”

That led Robertson to "soften" his stance on the matter and accept the contract offer submitted by the Leafs and worth $875,000 over a year.

This harsh dose of reality that led Robertson to sign a rather team-friendly deal with the Leafs was a tough one to accept by the young forward, per LeBrun.

The insider noted that hearing the news about the lack of interest in his services via trade must have been difficult for the 22-year-old, especially given his past flashes of potential.

However, Robertson's limited NHL resume and an abundance of injury issues paired with a lack of consistent playing time, made it tough for the Maple Leafs to find any takers for a trade.

“There was just no market,” LeBrun said, adding that Robertson eventually understood that his best shot at proving himself would come in Toronto.

Even though he's under contract for one more season, nothing will be guaranteed for Robertson in Toronto.

General manager Brad Treliving addressed Nick Robertson’s future with the team, speaking to reporters at the team's practice on September 12, and he said the forward needs to turn into "a complete player" if he wants to have a role in Toronto's lineup.

"I have a good relationship with Nick. We talked throughout the summer. You explain, 'Here is the situation. Everyone has to earn their stripes.'," Treliving said.

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