The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson's camp are reportedly $1.05 million apart in their arbitration filings.
The Maple Leafs are looking for $1.2 million on Robertson's next contract, while the left winger filed for $2.25 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday. Their arbitration hearing is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 3.
Toronto has about $2.93 million in available cap space, according to PuckPedia.
Robertson, who elected for arbitration in early July, is the only player left who could be headed to a hearing. The 10 other RFAs who filed for arbitration and two whose teams filed for arbitration signed new deals, including the Seattle Kraken's Kaapo Kakko, Buffalo Sabres' Bowen Byram and Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi.
In 69 games this past season, the 23-year-old recorded 15 goals and seven assists for 22 points. In 2023-24, Robertson played more than 15 NHL games for the first time, putting up 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 56 games.
Robertson averaged 12 minutes of ice time under first-year Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube, a career high. But in the playoffs, he only appeared in three games: Games 1 and 2 in the first round against the Ottawa Senators, when he had one assist, and Game 5 against the Florida Panthers, when he scored. He averaged 9:59 of ice time in the post-season.
The Maple Leafs lost right wingers Mitch Marner and Ryan Reaves and left winger Pontus Holmberg in free agency, while Max Pacioretty remains a UFA.
That said, Leafs GM Brad Treliving added Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Michael Pezzetta to the wings this off-season.
Toronto also still has Calle Jarnkrok, Steven Lorentz and David Kampf as bottom-six options, while either Bobby McMann or Max Domi will likely be on the third line with the other on one of the top two lines.
Regardless of the contract Robertson signs, he could face competition in earning a spot on the second or third lines. He has proven at times to provide solid secondary scoring, with an average shot speed of 62.73 mph that ranks in the 89th percentile of NHL players, according to NHL Edge.
As Friedman mentioned when reporting arbitration filings for the Jets' Dylan Samberg, who since signed a three-year contract worth $5.75 million annually, these filings are strategic. An arbitrator will often award a contract in between the two filings, leaning toward the team or player's filing.
More to come.
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