Toronto Maple Leafs RFA Nick Robertson may reportedly be target of offer sheet

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Cooper Godin
August 25, 2024 (11:44)

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Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent forward Nick Robertson may reportedly be target of an offer sheet.

With training camps around the National Hockey League set to open in less than a month, there are several restricted free agents who remain unsigned, including Nick Robertson of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Robertson has had a tough time with the Maple Leafs and has struggled to find ice time in the past, but during the 2023-24 campaign, he was able to spend the majority of the year in the National Hockey League, finding some success. He finished the year with 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 56 games, but didn't perform well at all during the playoffs, failing to record any points in six contests.

At the end of June, the Maple Leafs issued Robertson a qualifying offer as he was set to become a restricted free agent and just hours doing so, report came out from Chris Johnston of TSN saying that the 22-year-old has no interest in signing with Toronto and informed them that he wants to be traded.

It's been nearly two months since that report came out and Robertson remains unsigned as an RFA and apart of the Maple Leafs organization since they issued him a qualifying offer. All seems quiet on the trade market as well for the Maple Leafs and Robertson, but could the former second-rounder be a target of an offer sheet?

According to Geoff Hannah of NHLtraderumor.com, one team that may be eyeing up an offer sheet for Nick Robertson is the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins front office is very familiar with Nick Robertson because Kyle Dubas, their current General Manager, drafted him back in 2019 while he was in the same role with the Maple Leafs.

"Rumors indicate the Penguins are contemplating a one-year, $2.1 million offer sheet for Robertson. This strategic move could put the Leafs in a difficult position, as they are currently pressed tightly against the NHL salary cap. Matching such an offer sheet would require significant financial maneuvering for Toronto."

It wouldn't be surprising to see Nick Robertson sign an offer sheet at this point, especially since he reportedly wants to leave Toronto, but the Maple Leafs will have to consider what the compensation is if they decide not to match. Given that, so far, the Maple Leafs haven't received a trade offer that they've liked in return for Robertson, the compensation on an offer sheet might be more than they'll get on the market for the young forward.