Maple Leafs forward showing he has all the tools to make an impact amid insider's intriguing prediction

The Toronto Maple Leafs won 7-2 against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, but the future of one of their forwards continues to follow them.

ESPN's Greg Wyshynski has given an update on Nick Robertson's future, predicting the player will stay with Toronto for the entire season and find a role where he prospers.

"This could be Timothy Liljegren 2.0,” Wyshynski said. "Recall when the Leafs traded the defenseman in his sixth year after Liljegren never secured his spot. Robertson, a talented 24-year-old, is also entering Year 6, having signed a one-year extension ahead of salary arbitration. He requested a trade last season. When recently asked if he still wanted to be in Toronto, Robertson answered, 'Right now, I’m here.'"

"The obvious call is that Robertson is gone sooner than later. So, we’ll take the bolder path and say he finds a role and thrives enough to make everyone happy for at least this season," he added.

Why Nick Robertson should stay with the Maple Leafs

Robertson, 24, has a clear opportunity to secure a spot in the team's top six, with coach Craig Berube backing him.

"Nicky’s a hard worker that puts a puck in the net, right? He scores goals and he’s definitely a part of this team, and we’ll see where he fits," Berube said over a week ago.

Toronto needs a scorer to complement Auston Matthews, and without Mitch Marner, Robertson's profile fits perfectly. He has a quick shot and a high pace. Trading him now could mean losing him at a low price, given his potential. Keeping him allows the Maple Leafs to capitalize on his improvement curve with a coach who has said he has impressed him.

So far, he has performed well in training camp, so the trend is that continues in October and November. Furthermore, Robertson can move between the top six and third line without clashing, as he provides goals at five-on-five and on the second power-play unit.

Stability is fundamental in elite teams. Keeping Robertson would favor chemistry with centers and transition defenses. Developing and capitalizing on the forward's momentum will allow the Maple Leafs to improve offensively, but also revalue him in the future, in case they wish to trade him.