Recently signed Maple Leafs youngster 'connected' to Penguins in trade rumors

Jon Conahan

Recently signed Maple Leafs youngster 'connected' to Penguins in trade rumors image

After signing Nick Robertson to a one-year deal, some have wondered if the Toronto Maple Leafs could look to move on from him. 

It's been reported throughout the offseason that the Maple Leafs have an interest in trading the youngster, who was viewed as one of the top prospects in the Maple Leafs' system. 

The Maple Leafs haven't moved on from him just yet, but after signing a one-year deal, many believe that will happen in the near future.

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According to Elliot Friedman, the Maple Leafs have work to do entering the remainder of the offseason before they get into the regular season. He noted that the team has to move on from players, and that Robertson could be one of them.

“The Maple Leafs have to clear some bodies there,” Friedman said. “There’s a lot of them.”

According to Sports Illustrated’s Nick Horwat, he added that they could have interest in sending him to teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins are in a strange position, but the Blue Jackets could be a decent spot for him, as he’ll likely have some decent playing time there. 

“Robertson has been connected to teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, but it’ll be up to the Maple Leafs to decide if/where they want to send him,” he wrote.

For a player as young as Robertson, and perhaps even more unproven than some were hoping for at this stage of his career, he needs to go to a place where he can play. 

Unless the Maple Leafs take a different route, that likely isn't in Toronto.

Jon Conahan

Jon Conahan is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. A 2022 Penn State University graduate who majored in journalism, he was also a member of the school's D1 baseball team. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Heavy and other outlets. Jon makes home in North Jersey, but also resides in Cape Coral, Florida, for parts of the year. He’s an avid fan of the New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins and Milwaukee Bucks.