According to a recent proposal from the website PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, the Toronto Maple Leafs could acquire two forwards and a draft pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a potential trade. The proposed deal would see the Maple Leafs receive:
In the proposed trade between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the deal would look like this:
**Toronto Maple Leafs receive:**
– Lars Eller
– Matt Nieto
– 2027 third-round pick
**Pittsburgh Penguins receive:**
– Nick Robertson (restricted free agent)
Nick Robertson, who has indicated he does not plan to re-sign with the Maple Leafs, scored 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 56 games last season. The trade would involve both teams swapping two forwards, with the Maple Leafs also acquiring a draft pick.
In the proposed trade, here are the details of each player’s recent performance and projected roles:
**For the Penguins:**
– **Nick Robertson**: Recorded 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 56 games with the Maple Leafs last season. As a restricted free agent, he has indicated he does not plan to re-sign with Toronto. Robertson and **Pontus Holmberg**, who had 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 54 games last season, would likely project as middle-six forwards for Pittsburgh.
**For the Maple Leafs:**
– **Lars Eller**: A Stanley Cup winner with the Washington Capitals in 2018. Eller has one year left on his two-year, $4.9 million contract. Last season, he recorded 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points in 82 games. He would be expected to fill the role of third-line center for Toronto.
– **Matt Nieto**: Provides additional forward depth and experience.
– **2027 third-round pick**: Adds a future asset to the Maple Leafs’ stockpile.
In the proposed trade, **Matt Nieto** would likely serve as a fourth-line left winger or a potential scratch for the Toronto Maple Leafs. With 673 NHL games under his belt, Nieto brings valuable veteran experience. Last season, he recorded 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points in 22 games.
**Nick Robertson**, the centerpiece of the trade, is a 22-year-old forward drafted 53rd overall by the Maple Leafs in 2020. Despite showing potential as a solid NHL player, Robertson has not secured a regular spot in the lineup and has requested a trade due to his intention not to re-sign with Toronto.
Despite Nick Robertson’s trade request, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has expressed confidence in Robertson’s potential. Treliving believes that Robertson could still play a significant role for the team in the future.
On July 1, Brad Treliving addressed Nick Robertson’s situation, acknowledging the forward’s frustration but emphasizing his value to the team. “I have certainly known that there was some frustration with Nick, but we look at Nick as an excellent player,” Treliving said. “There is great opportunity for Nick here. We need him to be a good player for us. I am not going to get into any speculation or public back-and-forth. We will just leave it at that and continue to move forward.”
In his NHL career, Robertson has appeared in 87 games, registering 17 goals and 17 assists for a total of 34 points.
Kyle Dubas, the current general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is familiar with both Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg from his previous role as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dubas was with Toronto from 2018 to 2023, overseeing the drafting of Holmberg in 2018 and Robertson in 2020.
Dubas’s familiarity with these players could be a key factor in his interest in acquiring them. He has expressed a commitment to balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term sustainability. “That is what anchors our decision-making, how can we be competitive now but also be ensuring that we aren’t just layering quick fix on top of quick fix and then that leaves the Penguins in bad shape for the long run. That’s been the full objective,” Dubas said.
With this trade, Dubas would be bringing back two players he knows well while also pursuing his goal of building a younger, more sustainable roster for the Penguins.
The Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs in the 2023-24 NHL season, finishing with a record of 38-32-12. This lack of postseason success likely contributed to their current efforts to rejuvenate the roster and improve their chances for the upcoming season.
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