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Could the Penguins trade for Nick Robertson?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few items left on their to-do list for the summer. They desire to add more offense to their team; whether that comes in the form of an elite offensive defender, a Stanley Cup Champion winger, or a new, young second-line center.
On Saturday, August 2nd, the Maple Leafs came to a new contract agreement with pending RFA Nick Robertson. With the ink dried on that deal, Brad Treliving and company can pivot to the task of freeing up cap space. That could come in the form of trading Robertson, and an NHL insider has revealed that the Pittsburgh Penguins could be a suitable destination.
Maple Leafs Forward Connected to Penguins By Friedman
On a 32 Thoughts Podcast episode released on August 3rd, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman linked Robertson with the Penguins.
“I’m assuming things are going to heat up later in the summer at some point, in all these particular situations,” Friedman revealed about trade talks involving the Penguins. “I had some people ask me about the possibility of Nick Robertson and Pittsburgh. Obviously, Kyle Dubas knows him. They got the arbitration settled on Saturday at $1.825 million.”
“They’ve got to clear some bodies there, they’ve got a lot of them.”
Robertson was drafted by the Maple Leafs during Kyle Dubas’ tenure as GM. Since becoming GM of the Penguins, Dubas has added Michael Bunting and Noel Acciari, two players he added while in Toronto.
Maple Leafs are Trying to Free Up Cap Space
Multiple reports reveal that the Maple Leafs are trying to move players out.
NHL analyst at Heavy.com, Cole Shelton wrote about the Maple Leafs trying to move on from forward Calle Jarnkrok.
“Jarnkrok was a healthy scratch at times,” Shelton wrote. “But he’s still a good third-line forward in the NHL who can play left or right wing. He’s also in the final year of his four-year, $8.4 million deal.”
“Even though he only has one year left, the market for him hasn’t been what Toronto likely thought.”
Insider David Pagnotta has David Kampf, Jarnkrok, and Robertson all on his Summer Trade Watch board.
Why the Penguins Make Sense for Robertson
Moving on from Robertson makes sense for the Maple Leafs. Adding him to their forward group makes sense for Dubas and the Penguins.
Josh Rohe of The Athletic, released a report at the end of July that shared some insight into the Penguins plans for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
“Penguins president/general manager Kyle Dubas isn’t selling Rakell and Rust for peanuts, nor is he married to the idea of keeping them for the long term,” Rohe wrote. “I keep going back to what several team sources have told me: Dubas wants to go young next season…remember those words.”
“Things are quiet at the moment. However, as we all know, that can change. A big trade or two feels likely before training camp. Dubas hasn’t received offers that meet his liking yet, but he is fully committed to a rebuild.”
Robertson is 23-years-old and would get a valuable opportunity if he were to be traded to a rebuilding team like Pittsburgh. Considering their ages, a return involving Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell would be likely.
The Maple Leafs have $1,919,722 in cap space.
Caleb Kerney Caleb covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has covered professional hockey since 2022, including bylines at Dobber Prospects, The Hockey Writers, and The Hockey News. More about Caleb Kerney
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