Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign Nick Robertson to one-year, $875,000 contract

After a strange and extended saga, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Tuesday that they have signed forward Nick Robertson to a one-year contract. The deal will carry a cap hit of $875,000 through the 2024-25 season.

Robertson was a restricted free agent at the conclusion of his entry-level contract, which had an AAV of $796,667 over the past three seasons.

It ends a long stalemate between Robertson and the team that took him in the second round, 53rd overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old had been reported as saying that he didn’t want to re-sign with the Maple Leafs, and that he wanted to find another opportunity elsewhere.

It was strange, as Robertson was coming off a 2023-24 season in which he played more games in the NHL than he had in any previous season. In 56 games with the Leafs, he set career highs in goals (14), assists (13), and points (27). The Pasadena, California native also played in six of the team’s seven games against the Boston Bruins in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With him sticking around, Robertson will have a chance at even more playing time this year. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Robertson and new head coach Craig Berube had conversations over the offseason, with the former St. Louis Blues coach letting Robertson know there is a spot for him on the left wing.

Across four seasons in the NHL, which has seen Robertson spend a lot of time with the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, he has scored 17 goals and 17 assists in 87 games. The former member of the Peterborough Pete has appeared in 60 AHL games, notching 27 goals and 30 assists.

With the signing, Toronto has 44 of a possible 50 contracts on the books for the 2024-25 campaign. According to CapWages, the Leafs have a little over $1.5 million available in cap space heading into this season.