NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shot down a trade rumor involving Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson.
Robertson requested a trade last offseason, but nothing came to fruition. This offseason, he ended up signing a one-year, $1.825 million deal with the Maple Leafs.
Although Toronto and Robertson signed an extension, his name has still come up in trade rumors. One rumor that has come up is Robertson for Yegor Chinakhov, as it’s two young forwards who could use a change of scenery, but Friedman doesn’t think that will happen.
“I had one Columbus fan ask me if Chinakhov for Robertson made sense. I think Toronto would have to do more to get that done,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts.
Despite both players needing a change of scenery, Friedman doesn’t think a Robertson for Chinakhov swap will happen.
Robertson recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points last season in 69 games with the Maple Leafs. Chinakhov, meanwhile, recorded 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points in 30 games as he dealt with injuries last season.
Maple Leafs’ Robertson Linked to Penguins
Although Friedman shot down the Robertson for Chinakhov rumor, he did link the young forward to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Robertson doesn’t have a clear path to playing time and could be used as a trade chip this offseason, and Friedman links him to Pittsburgh.
“I’m assuming things are going to heat up later in the summer at some point, in all these particular situations,” Friedman revealed about trade talks involving the Penguins. “I had some people ask me about the possibility of Nick Robertson and Pittsburgh. Obviously, Kyle Dubas knows him. They got the arbitration settled on Saturday at $1.825 million.”
With the Maple Leafs adding the likes of Dakota Joshua, Nic Roy, and Mattias Maccelli, the path to playing time for Robertson isn’t there.
The Maple Leafs selected 53rd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Chinakhov Requested Trade From Blue Jackets
The Robertson for Chinakhov trade rumors started once the Russian forward requested a trade this offseason.
Chinakhov was frustrated that he was a healthy scratch to end the year after returning from an injury and wanted a fresh start elsewhere.
“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here,” Chinakhov’s agent, Shumi Babaev wrote.
However, Blue Jackets’ general manager Don Waddell said he wasn’t going to trade him just to trade him.
“I ignore it,” Waddell said to The Athletic of the post. “I’ll talk to teams. I’ll continue to talk to teams. But him (going public) isn’t going to change my thinking on it. I have to have the right value. It depends on how many teams are interested and what teams are willing to pay. I can ask for whatever I want, but what’s the market? And if the market’s not good enough, he’ll be a Blue Jacket.”
Chinakhov was selected 21st overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
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