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Maple Leafs Expected to Keep Forward Amid Ongoing Trade Rumors, per Chris Johnston

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 9:25 AM ET

Per a report from NHL Insider Chris Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allegedly likely going to hold on to Nicolas Robertson, who filed for salary arbitration.

Among the handful of NHL players who filed for salary arbitration included Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicolas Robertson.

Robertson, who was taken with the 53rd overall pick by the Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, had 22 points (15G, 7A) in 69 games this year in Toronto. He's coming off a 1-year contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $875,000.

But in the mind of NHL analyst Chris Johnston, the Maple Leafs could very well choose to keep Robertson and sign him to a new deal.

That doesn't mean that everyone agrees with his assessment, however.

Former Maple Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, who is a current co-host on TSN's FirstUp, said recently that he doesn't see a place in the Toronto lineup anymore for Robertson.

Thirteenth forward. You're going to play Nick Robertson on your fourth line?
I could find that type of role. So I mean, I don't know. Nick Robertson deserves an opportunity elsewhere at this point. It's just a matter of if the Leafs can give him one. But if he's on the Leafs, he's like an in-and-out thirteenth forward, twelfth forward, somewhere in that range for me.

When asked about Robertson's future with the Leafs last month, GM Brad Treliving didn't provide a solid response.

We'll see how it plays out. We are in the early days here, but Nick's a great kid who possesses a real good skill set. Again, we're in June, the puzzle has to come into place. But I think Nick is a good player. He's still a young player, he's still an evolving player, but he's got a skill set and he shoots it in the net. That's a good skill set to have.

Robertson has 56 points (32G, 24A) in 156 career NHL games, all played with the Maple Leafs.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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