One dark horse suitor becomes front-runner for imminent Nick Robertson trade

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson is starting to attract more and more attention around the league. According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, several Western Conference teams are scouting the young winger and one of them coming in as a front-runner, the San Jose Sharks.

“Hearing multiple Western Conference teams have shown interest in the Leafs winger, including San Jose,” Robinson reported, highlighting the buzz around Robertson as the regular season nears.

The Maple Leafs winger has yet to fully cement his spot on Toronto’s roster. Last season, Robertson recorded 15 goals and 22 points in 59 games. While he showed flashes of brilliance, inconsistency and frequent scratches left him on the outside looking in at times.

Jonas Siegel of The Athletic recently explored three potential paths for Robertson, with a trade emerging as the most likely scenario. The key question remains: which team is willing to take on Robertson and his $1.85 million cap hit this season, especially with restricted free agency and potential arbitration on the horizon next summer?

At 24, Robertson still has time to develop into a reliable top-six forward. But with his current standing in Toronto, it may take a change of scenery to unlock his full potential.

And it sounds like he could be on his way south to San Jose.