Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson share arbitration numbers, case set for Aug. 3

As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Nick Robertson are over $1 million apart in arbitration filings ahead of the case on Sunday.

Friedman reported that the team submitted a $1.2 million offer, while Robertson asked for $2.25. A contract can be signed prior to Sunday’s hearing. If the deal makes it to arbitration, an independent arbitrator will have the final say on what Robertson gets on his next contract.

The 23-year-old is the last player who filed for arbitration to be left without a contract. The former Peterborough Pete set a career best 15 goals last year, finishing with 22 points in 69 games. Robertson had another two points in three post-season games, playing limited minutes in the process.

Robertson has proven himself to be a decent goal-scorer, but has struggled for offense as a whole. His career-best at this point is 27 set a year ago, with the Arcadia, California native spending plenty of time as a healthy scratch over the past few years. He has managed to score 32 goals in 156 points over six years, giving the team some decent scoring depth.

According to Puckpedia, the Leafs have $2.932 million in projected cap space. Robertson is the lone NHLer without a deal, with AHLers William Villeneuve and Dennis Hildeby still needing new contracts as restricted free agents.

The biggest news for Toronto this offseason was the departure of Mitch Marner, who was part of a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. In his absence, the team has managed to acquire forwards Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua, as well as a host of other minor league players. Robertson has been the subject of trade rumors for a few years now, but he has an opportunity to play higher in the lineup with Marner now out of the picture.

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