Nick Robertson Forces Maple Leafs’ Hand with Bold Contract Move

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson wants clarity on his future in Toronto, but he's not asking the franchise about it.

Instead of that, Robertson will ask a third-party arbitrator to deliver a decision on his future, according to reports emerging on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Maple Leafs forward filed for salary arbitration, along with another 10 NHL players, in a move that forces the Leafs into contract talks after his one-year, $875,000 deal expired.

The Leafs have already extended a $918,750 qualifying offer to retain Robertson's negotiating rights, but the winger may seek more than that.

Robertson's filing means no team can submit an offer sheet for the player, and if no deal is reached before the hearing, set between July 20 and Aug. 4, a third party will set Robertson’s salary for next season.

If the arbitrator awards more than $4.85 million to Robertson—the maximum allowable, but a highly unlikely scenario—the Leafs could walk away, turning Robertson into an unrestricted free agent.

Robertson scored a career-high 15 goals last season, but his 22 points marked a regression from the 27 tallies he notched in 2023-24. That said, Robertson finally appeared in more than 56 games after four seasons failing to break that mark, staying healthy after years of injuries.

Robertson's inconsistent play and limited playoff role—he appeared in just three of Toronto’s 13 postseason games—underscore the Leafs' position and lack of action on a Robertson extension.

Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Nicholas Robertson (89) during a face off.

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

This decision, however, marks a sharp turn for a player who requested a trade last summer after clashing with former coach Sheldon Keefe and struggling to secure minutes.

Toronto kept him, signing him to a one-year deal, and under new coach Craig Berube, Robertson seemed to find a way into he lineup but failed to produce points once again.