The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers both have forwards in need of a fresh start, and one trade proposal suggests they swap places.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, which allows users to create their own trades, one user suggested the Maple Leafs acquire Kaapo Kakko from the Rangers.
**Trade Details:**
**Maple Leafs acquire:**
– Kaapo Kakko
**Rangers acquire:**
– Nick Robertson
– Marshall Rifai
– 2025 sixth-round pick
The main attraction of the proposed trade is the swap between Kakko and Robertson, both players unhappy with their current roles.
Drafted second overall in 2019, Kakko has struggled with consistency and has occasionally been a healthy scratch. Projected as a middle-six forward, Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the Maple Leafs this offseason. Last season, he recorded 13 goals and 6 assists in 61 games for the Rangers, totaling 19 points. Over his career, Kakko has played 300 NHL games, tallying 57 goals and 60 assists for 117 points.
The Rangers, in turn, would receive Robertson, who remains an unsigned RFA and has requested a trade. Robertson, expected to fill a middle-six role, posted 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 56 games with the Maple Leafs last season.
Additionally, the Rangers would get Marshall Rifai, a 26-year-old AHL defenseman who made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs last season. Rifai is considered a depth player and would likely remain in the AHL for the Rangers.
Robertson Stands Firm on Trade Request From Maple Leafs
NHL insider Chris Johnston reported on June 30 that Robertson had requested a trade and informed the Maple Leafs that he wouldn’t be re-signing.
Robertson, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, has grown frustrated with his role on the team. Despite this, the Maple Leafs have remained firm in their commitment to keeping him. However, Johnston confirmed on TSN1050’s OverDrive on August 26 that the forward still wants to be traded.
“It’s kind of at a standstill right now. My understanding is Nick Robertson’s desire to move on hasn’t changed. But, the fact remains he’s a restricted free agent, he only has so many rights. Especially if he doesn’t want to sign a contract and the organization decides not to move him, really all he could do is miss time and try to put pressure on the team, that way,” Johnston explained.
Johnston added, “But obviously it comes at a cost to him, both in terms of getting up to speed in training camp and potentially playing games, and obviously a financial cost… Maybe there’s a path to rebuild things, but right now there’s not an obvious solution out there that I see.”
Robertson’s lack of a full-time role with the Maple Leafs has led to his trade request.
Maple Leafs GM Envisions Big Role For Robertson
Despite Nick Robertson’s trade request, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving expects the forward to play a significant role on the team.
“I’m aware of some frustration on Nick’s part, but we see him as a valuable player,” Treliving said on July 1. “Nick has a great opportunity here, and we need him to be a key contributor. I’m not going to engage in speculation or public back-and-forth. We’ll leave it at that and continue moving forward.”
Robertson is currently projected to be the Maple Leafs’ second-line left winger, but he remains firm on his trade request, leaving his future with the team uncertain.
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