Player for player trade brewing in Toronto!

It was only a matter of time before Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson’s name would come back up in trade talks as he has yet to fully cement his spot on Toronto’s roster. Many insiders believe a trade is the most likely scenario for Robertson and just last night, Elliotte Friedman confirmed in his 32 Thoughts column on Sportsnet that some options have landed on the Maple Leafs’s table for a retun in what seems to be a potential player-for-player transaction:

“Toronto is investigating options for Nick Robertson. At some point in the summer, they pitched a move for Yegor Chinakhov, but that wasn’t to the Blue Jackets’ liking. That file remains open in Columbus, however. Same with Lukas Reichel in Chicago.”

There are some things to consider when you’re a team, perhaps like the Blue Jackets or Blackhawks, looking into the possibility of acquiring Robertson. His contract situation has to be closely studied with 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. Last season, Robertson recorded 15 goals and 22 points in 59 games. In seven games so far this month though, he’s only put up an assist, which could be a sign that a change of scenery is much needed indeed. Especially with his current standing in Toronto…

LATER ON FRIDAY, the Maple Leafs missed out on Reichel as he was traded by Chicago to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.