The Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free-agent forward Nick Robertson are just over $1M apart in their arbitration filings ahead of Sunday's hearing, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The Maple Leafs reportedly filed at $1.2 million, while Robertson filed for $2.25 million. The two sides can still negotiate up until the arbitration hearing, which is the last one scheduled across the league.
Robertson, 23, has been an efficient scorer in a bottom-six role for the Maple Leafs over the last two seasons, but he's failed to carve out consistent playing time. He potted 15 goals and seven assists in 69 games last season, averaging 12 minutes per contest. He tallied 14 goals and 13 assists in 56 games the year before, averaging 11:23 per appearance.
The 5-foot-9 winger was a healthy scratch for 10 of Toronto's 13 playoff games, though he did manage a goal and an assist in his three postseason appearances.
Robertson requested a trade from the Maple Leafs following the 2023-24 season, but nothing materialized. As an RFA without arbitration rights, he eventually settled for a one-year, $875,000 deal.
Now with some leverage on his side, Robertson is set for a pay raise. AFP Analytics projected he'd sign a two-year contract with a $1.5-million cap hit.
However, it's unclear what kind of role he may have with the Maple Leafs this coming season. Following the loss of Mitch Marner, the club added three forwards who figure to be lineup locks in Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, and Nicolas Roy. In addition to Marner, Pontus Holmberg and Max Pacioretty are the only other notable departures up front.
Toronto has $2.9 million in cap space.
The Maple Leafs drafted Robertson in the second round in 2019. He made his NHL debut in the 2020 playoff bubble as an 18-year-old, but his development was hindered by multiple injuries. He's amassed 32 goals and 24 assists in 156 career NHL regular-season games across five seasons.
Robertson is under team control until 2029.
