Islanders Trade Option: Nick Robertson

Nick Robertson has remained vehemently opposed to remaining with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the upcoming season. The disgruntled 22, soon-to-be 23-year-old has received inconsistent game time.

He didn’t receive any time in the 2022-23 playoffs and only played 6 of the 7 Leafs’ playoff games this spring. During those games, he was pointless. Robertson scored 14 goals and notched 27 total points across 56 games this season, a 20-goal pace over 82 games.

Who is He as a Player?

He utilizes speed the most, especially considering his small 5’9 stature. In a few ways, Robertson makes sense for the Islanders, as he could feasibly slot in anywhere on line two or three while adding young talent to the lineup.

The return for Robertson would be tricky. The Islanders have their draft picks, but if this year was any indication, Lou Lamoriello wants to restock the cupboard, even if just a little. Oliver Wahlstrom alone would not get this deal done.

Holmstrom?

Could the Islanders also include Simon Holmstrom in a potential swap? Holmstrom, 23, had a very slow end to the season. Though he popped on the penalty kill with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, they stopped scoring shorthanded and allowed far more goals than they scored while a man down.

He also struggled as the season wore on, driving play less and creating little. Holmstrom and Wahlstrom together would give Toronto two young forwards at cheap hits with a lot still to prove, all for the price of the want-away Robertson.

A lower-round draft pick, like a fourth-round pick, would likely clinch it. Robertson is currently an RFA and seemingly has no interest in signing a deal with the Leafs. The more he holds out, the less leverage the team would have. 

Why it Makes Sense:

Infusing Robertson’s speed and skill, which teem from the surface, would be a boon for the Islanders. Nothing in either Holmstrom or Wahlstrom’s careers indicates anything more than a third-line forward at best, with limited offensive upside.

Holmstrom certainly has the higher ceiling of the two, but his offensive limitations so far in his career frustrate many. Robertson is much closer to becoming a bonafide top-six forward that the Islanders could desperately use if Maxim Tsyplakov does not pan out.

The Islanders surely wouldn’t be the only interested party, either. Dan Kingerski has already discussed Robertson as a great option for the Penguins, who currently have 15 NHL forwards on their roster. Most teams would have interest in Robertson, and though he may want out, it still feels unlikely that he’d be dealt away at this juncture.

If he is, the Islanders should absolutely take a long look. A young player who has a lot of speed to go with a finishing touch is a rare commodity. It’s worth the look for the Islanders.