NHL insider believes Leafs are closing in on a huge trade

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Daniel Lucente
September 21, 2024 (2:10 PM)

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An NHL insider believes the Leafs are looking to trade Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins in order to stockpile some draft picks long-term.

The Toronto Maple Leafs go into the 2024-25 season supremely loaded with hope and burdened by the all-too-familiar reality of trying to work around a tight salary cap. With opening night looming, critical decisions regarding some of their up-and-coming talents, most notably Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins, come into sharp focus. Adding in the veteran with the signing of Max Pacioretty, the logjam has only grown worse, and it begs the question of whether any of these young talents could be shipped out for draft picks. Insiders say this would allow the Leafs to take care of both their salary cap issues and a future that is currently without key draft selections. NHL insider David Pagnotta believes a trade is on the horizon.

The Leafs have, for the longest time, been built on star power in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. A juggernaut up front, yes, but the balancing act involving these top-heavy contracts to keep the depth intact has been a yearly battle. The left-wing position is quite overstocked, with Max Pacioretty joining a group that already includes Matthew Knies, Max Domi, and Easton Cowan. This surplus does little to leave room for Nick Robertson despite his potential.

The Leafs added Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Tanev, and Steven Lorentz among others this offseason. While those moves do give them a more immediate prospect of contending, it further complicated their salary cap situation. Thus, all of a sudden, young, cost-controlled players like Robertson and Timmins very well could become trade candidates as the team looks to free up space and continue to stockpile for the future.

Nick Robertson is a prospect who has seen his development stalled by injury and was at one time a potential star for the Leafs. Still only 23 years old, the forward has flashed his scoring ability but has been unable to secure a consistent place in the NHL lineup. Given the depth the team possesses up front, particularly on the left side, Robertson's chances in Toronto would appear slim. A trade could get him more playing time while aiding the Leafs with draft picks or prospects.

Conor Timmins is another similar story in a lot of ways. This defender, coming from the Arizona Coyotes, has size and some upside offensively. However, the Leafs' blue line is quite crowded, especially with the offseason pickups of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev. Much like Nick Robertson, he could very well find himself on the trade block in an attempt to rectify the deficit with draft picks.

Ultimately, moving Nick Robertson and Conor Timmins could also prove a pragmatic solution for the Leafs: it would free them from salary cap pressure, rebuild some draft capital, and allow these young players better opportunities elsewhere. These moves will be important as the team heads toward the new season, and such decisions shape their future.