Maple Leafs trade forward Nick Robertson to Penguins

The Nick Robertson era in Toronto is over.

The Maple Leafs traded the winger to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2028.

Robertson had long been on the trade block, with speculation dating back years that he and the Leafs would part ways. A deal never materialized, though, and the club continued to hang onto the player it drafted in the second round in 2019.

Of course, the guy running the Leafs back then is the same person running the Penguins now — general manager Kyle Dubas. Pittsburgh will be betting on Robertson expanding his offensive contributions with what will surely be a greater role in Steeltown.

Robertson is coming off a season in which he posted career-bests with 16 goals and 32 points. In three full campaigns with Toronto, though, Robertson never averaged more than 13 minutes of ice time per night. No doubt the 25-year-old is hoping this long-rumoured move helps him unlock his full potential as a top-six forward.

The Penguins may even have higher hopes than that, as Robertson’s older brother — Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars — is in need of a new contract and has also been in trade rumours. Speaking on Hockey Central Signing Season, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman suggested it’s not unthinkable the Robertson boys could team up in Pittsburgh.

For their part, the Penguins have done a great job breathing new life into players in recent times. This past season, the Penguins saw Anthony Mantha — playing on a one-year deal — net a career-best 33 goals, while 2020 first-rounder Egor Chinakhov — whom the Columbus Blue Jackets more or less gave up on — came in midway through this past season and became an immediate offensive threat for the Penguins, notching 36 points in 43 games with the club.

Pittsburgh will be hoping a similar change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered for Robertson.