Will he stay or will he go?
That’s the $1.2 million question right now for the Toronto Maple Leafs as general manager Brad Treliving has left some cap space to re-sign restricted free-agent forward Nick Robertson, but to this point of the offseason, there hasn’t been any indication Robertson wants to remain a Maple Leaf.
The former 2019 second-round pick instead, reportedly wants a change of scenery and to move on from the organization.
Sources say that RFA Nick Robertson has no plans to re-sign with the #leafs this summer and has informed the team that he would like to be traded.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2024
Robertson battled it out with former head coach Sheldon Keefe to stay in the lineup on a consistent basis. Keefe had trust issues, especially on the defensive side of the puck and wouldn’t give Robertson consistent minutes within the team’s top six. Robertson recorded 14 goals and 27 points in 56 games in 2023-24 and his offensive upside and untapped potential, make the 22-year-old an attractive trade target for onlooking teams.
With a Robertson trade still very likely to materialize before training camp in September, here’s three trade targets the Maple Leafs should consider adding to their radar, in no particular order:
Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames
Pospisil is 6-foot-2, he landed 238 hits last season and chipped in with eight goals and 24 points in 63 games. It was his first taste of NHL action and the 24-year-old winger could have some serious potential to develop into a productive power forward.
Throughout his rookie season with the Flames in 2023-24, he finished fifth on the team in expected goals per 60 minutes. He also led the Flames in penalty minutes and finished the season third on the team with a +14 rating. Impressive stuff for a rookie and with his playing style and pushback, he could eventually be a nice replacement for Tyler Bertuzzi in Toronto.
Pospisil has put up solid offensive numbers regardless of where he’s played so far in his young career, be it within the American Hockey League or the Slovak league. He’s set to earn $1 million the next two seasons. He has played some centre in the past and his versatility could be attractive for Treliving and company. Making a trade with the Flames however, will be tough regardless of who Treliving is sending to Calgary. The history there between both sides certainly plays a factor.
Regardless, Pospisil is someone the Maple Leafs can afford, it would allow the team to let Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, Easton Cowan and Alex Nylander to battle it out at left wing among the top two lines as Pospisil could fit in seamlessly for Berube on the Leafs third-line left-wing slot, beside Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok.
The Flames need more offence throughout their lineup and are expected to continue re-tooling and rebuilding on the fly. Robertson would immediately jump into their top six and give them a shoot-first left-winger with 25-goal potential next season.
Sean Kuraly, Columbus Blue Jackets
It might not be the ‘sexiest’ of names, but Kuraly is very effective and could be a nice addition for the Maple Leafs forward group. He’d give them a right-handed centre option, something they don’t have very much of at the moment.
Kuraly appeared in 62 games for the Blue Jackets last season, recording 18 points, landing 156 hits, and averaging over two minutes on the penalty kill each game. Kuraly also won 48% of his faceoffs and has shown dominance in the faceoff dot in years past, including winning over 57% for the Boston Bruins in 2020-21.
The 31-year-old veteran has 57 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience under his belt and with spending parts of five seasons with the Bruins to start his career, could be a key addition for the Leafs to help them figure out how to go into Boston and win in the playoffs.
Kuraly is set to make $2.5 million against the cap in 2024-25, and if the Blue Jackets want Robertson to add to their offence, they’ll have to retain 50% of Kuraly’s contract for next season. Considering Columbus is desperate for more offense, adding a 22-year-old winger under team control could be appealing for GM Don Waddell.
Arthur Kaliyev, Los Angeles Kings
Like Robertson, word is Kaliyev wants out of is current organization. Kaliyev was a 2019 second-round pick of the Kings and appeared in NHL games as early as the 2020-21 season as a 19-year-old.
In his rookie year, as a 20-year-old, Kaliyev scored 14 goals and added 27 points in 80 games. Last season, his third full season in the league, he scored seven goals and totaled 15 points in 51 games. He saw some minutes on the Kings’ second power-play unit and this deal would see a couple of disgruntled young wingers get the change of scenery they both desire.
There games are somewhat similar, considering the offensive punch, however Kaliyev is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds compared to Robertson at 5-foot-9, 178 pounds. You can imagine this would be music to the ears of Berube, who prefers players who have some size, and don’t get pushed off the puck easily.
Robertson is a native of Pasadena, California and this would be an ideal situation for the Maple Leafs to send him back home. Meanwhile, Treliving could use the $1.2 million in cap space and sign Kaliyev to a one-year deal and essentially give the Russian winger the same opportunity Robertson was in line for next season.
Nevertheless, there’s many different directions Treliving could go by trading Robertson and I’ve decided to showcase three different scenarios and three very different targets. One up-and-coming power forward who loves to throw his weight around, one veteran right-handed defensive-minded centre will lots of playoff experience, something the Leafs haven’t had for quite some time, and Kaliyev from the Kings, a former top prospect who has shown the ability to put the puck in the back of the net.
If Robertson still wants out, Treliving should grant him his wish before training camp and give the incoming player a chance to learn the Maple Leafs system and take part in a full training camp under Berube.
