The Toronto Maple Leafs had few alternatives at this season’s trade deadline to deal Nick Robertson, but they could have, according to a new report. Even though the gifted winger isn’t totally content with his current situation, the Maple Leafs are forced to hold onto Robertson because no team was ready to give up anything of genuine value in order to sign the player out of Toronto.
When asked what trade possibilities Toronto might have had before the deadline, Kevin McGran of The Toronto Star said he was surprised that Roberston wasn’t getting more attention. The return was simply absent, according to McGran. As he wasn’t sure Toronto did enough by the deadline, he wrote back to the reader:
Notwithstanding his ability to avoid injuries throughout the season, Robertson finds it difficult to remain consistent enough to hold down a regular position on the Leafs’ roster. He has expressed his dissatisfaction in public with the Leafs’ ability to transport him between the AHL and NHL due to his waiver situation, but his output has only been sporadic and insufficient to establish him as a regular member of the team.
This could be Robertson’s last chance to make an impression on head coach Sheldon Keefe and land a permanent job, since Calle Jarnkrok is out of commission once more. The Leafs may consider trade possibilities in the off-season if the market doesn’t yield anything better than a second-round pick.
