Toronto Maple Leafs at Risk of Losing Nick Robertson to Offer Sheet – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Offer sheets are very rare in the NHL. Any team with restricted free agents (RFAs) is at risk, although few are ever forced to deal with them. Many are of the belief that it is somehow an unwritten rule among general managers (GMs) to avoid them. Odd signings have caused bad blood between GMs in the past.

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St. Louis Blues appear to have no problem, however, as they opted to sign two Edmonton Oilers RFAs, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, to two-year deals on Tuesday (Aug. 13). Oilers management has until next Tuesday (Aug. 20) to match the offer. If they don't, they'll get a second-round pick for Broberg and a third-round pick for Holloway. Those returns will be a big concern for the Oilers, and rightly so for the Blues, as both players appear to have bright NHL futures ahead.

Although it remains to be seen, this latest signing by the Blues could lead to other GMs around the league reconsidering their papers. While many RFAs are already locked up for their respective teams, there is one in particular in the Toronto Maple Leafs that could be had, and he may be open to joining another organization.

Robertson Wants a Change of Location

Shortly after the end of the 2023-24 season, several reports surfaced that Nick Robertson had requested a trade to Toronto. The 2019 second-round pick has a ridiculously high skill level but has yet to get a real chance with the Maple Leafs system.

The Maple Leafs don't seem too keen on moving Robertson, who they certainly see as having a bright future in the NHL. GM Brad Treliving went out of his way to make it clear to reporters that he will have a very good chance moving forward. Maybe that's true of new coach Craig Berube, but until it actually happens, it's safe to assume that Robertson remains hesitant to stay.

There are plenty of teams around the league, especially rebuilding ones with plenty of cap space, that should consider sending an offer sheet Robertson's way. He is 12 days older than Holloway and has 17 goals and 34 points in 87 career games. Holloway, who was given a two-year, $2.29 million contract, has nine goals and 18 points in 89 games.

While Robertson will have to accept any offer sheet sent his way, the fact that he requested a trade makes it seem like he is willing to do so. The chances of playing a top-six role in Toronto featuring the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Max Domi don't seem likely. Having a role in the power play, even less.

That wouldn't be the case for most rebuilding teams in the league, which would give Robertson both of those opportunities to prove he has what it takes to be a goal scorer at the NHL level. There is a chance that he won't succeed, but the reward far outweighs the risk in this situation.

While the Maple Leafs aren't in as much trouble as the Oilers, their situation isn't great. They have a cap hit of $875,000, which means if Robertson were to sign an offer sheet, Treliving would be forced to make some roster changes to keep him around.

Maple Leafs Need to Act Fast

Robertson has proven throughout his time in the American Hockey League (AHL), and throughout his elite junior hockey career, that he has great offensive skills. His 14 goals and 27 points in 56 games in a limited NHL role last season were far from shabby, either.

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While no one has yet, Robertson is a prime candidate to be signed to an offer sheet in the near future. The Maple Leafs, by all accounts, want to keep him around, which means Treliving will need to do everything in his power to convince the young player to sign an extension. If not, the organization may find itself in trouble.