Maple Leafs – Toronto has traded winger Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins, getting a fourth-round pick in 2028 in return. Robertson, long connected to trade speculation, is coming off a career-best season with 16 goals and 32 points—yet averaged just 13 minutes per
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 been on the trade block for a long stretch, with speculation dating back years that he and the Leafs would part ways. A deal never materialized, and Toronto kept the second-round pick it selected in 2019.
There’s an extra layer to why this move feels like more than just a change of scenery. The Leafs’ general manager during Robertson’s draft run was the same person now running Pittsburgh’s front office—general manager Kyle Dubas. Pittsburgh will be betting on Robertson expanding his offensive contributions with what promises to be a greater role in Steeltown.
That hope starts with what Robertson did last season. He’s coming off a year in which he posted career-bests with 16 goals and 32 points. But the numbers from his time in Toronto tell a different story about usage. Across three full campaigns with the Maple Leafs, Robertson never averaged more than 13 minutes of ice time per night. Now. at 25 years old. he’s hoping this has been the missing piece—an opportunity that lets him lock in as a top-six forward.
Toronto’s willingness to move him is rooted in the long-running reality of “close, but not quite.” Pittsburgh is stepping in at a moment when it believes it can turn that potential into production.
The Penguins may even have a wider reason to be excited. 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.
Back in Pittsburgh. the track record for bold changes of scenery is the kind of promise teams like to lean on. This past season, the Penguins saw Anthony Mantha—playing on a one-year deal—net a career-best 33 goals. And 2020 first-rounder Egor Chinakhov. whom the Columbus Blue Jackets more or less gave up on. arrived midway through the 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 reset is exactly what Robertson needs to take the next step—and for the first time in his NHL life, he won’t be waiting for that role to appear. He’ll be expected to create it.
Nick Robertson Maple Leafs Pittsburgh Penguins Kyle Dubas NHL trade 2028 fourth-round pick Steeltown Jason Robertson
Pens got him for a 4th?? that’s gonna look bad if he suddenly pops off lol.
I don’t get it, Toronto had him like forever and now they just ditch him. 13 minutes is low but maybe he didn’t do anything with it? also Kyle Dubas again like wow.
Wait so Elliotte Friedman said he could play with Jason Robertson in Pittsburgh? I thought Jason was with Dallas still, so how does that even work. Also I saw somewhere it was a second rounder… or am I mixing it up with another trade.
This is lowkey just “close but not quite” again for the Leafs. Like they always trade away the young guy and then act surprised when he’s better somewhere else. 16 goals and 32 points is good, so why only 13 mins? maybe they hated him lol. Penguins better not waste him either.