Robertson appears to be dead set on a fresh start with a new club as the 2024-25 season inches closer

Restricted free agent — and former top prospect — Nick Robertson’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to be heading off a cliff.

Since the 2019 second-round pick requested a trade at the end of June, there’s been little-to-no progress in contract talks according to multiple reports. And, as training camp draws near, there doesn’t appear to be a resolution on the horizon as both sides hold their ground.

The 22-year-old winger still remains without a contract, and TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston doesn’t believe a solution is imminent.

“It’s kind of at a standstill right now,” Johnston said on popular Toronto sports radio program “OverDrive” on Monday. “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. 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.”

Johnston continued:

Naturally, Leafs Nation stormed social media to express varying opinions on the disgruntled forward’s waning desire to stay in Toronto, with many opting to side with the team — which holds most of the leverage in a contentious situation like this.

Others, meanwhile, are falling more on Robertson’s side of the fence, empathizing with the young winger’s desire for a change of scenery after several injury-plagued seasons on an underachieving Leafs squad.

And some are just hoping both sides come to their senses and get a deal done so Robertson — who boasts plenty of potential — can continue his young career in Toronto with the only NHL franchise he’s known.

Treliving, meanwhile, claimed he has no plans to deal Robertson despite the latter’s trade request earlier this summer, calling Robertson an “excellent” player while adding the Maple Leafs “need him” to make a mark with the team this season and beyond.

“I have certainly known that there was some frustration with Nick, but we look at Nick as an excellent player,” Treliving said. “There is great opportunity for Nick here. We need him to be a good player for us.

“I am not going to get into any speculation or public back-and-forth. We will just leave it at that and continue to move forward.”

Robertson, meanwhile, has publicly expressed frustrations with his situation, most recently during the 2023-24 season when he was once again loaned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

“It’s been kind of weird,” he said. “I’ve just been practicing on my own while the guys were on the road and just waiting for my turn, I guess.”

Robertson, a restricted free agent, must sign a deal with either Toronto or another squad by December 1, or he’ll be ineligible to play in the 2024-25 season. The Maple Leafs can also trade his rights to another club. The 22-year-old could also be handed an “offer sheet” from other teams around the league, which would force Toronto to either match the offer and re-sign Robertson to those terms, or lose him for draft-pick compensation.

A situation similar to this just played out with former Oilers youngsters Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, who were offer-sheeted by the St. Louis Blues. Tight against the salary cap with some big contracts looming on the horizon, Edmonton opted not to match and instead will receive the Blues’ second and third-round selections in the 2025 NHL Draft, per NHL compensation guidelines, while Holloway and Broberg were officially shipped to St. Louis.

Toronto has brought in a new head coach as Cup-winning bench boss Craig Berube takes over for Sheldon Keefe, and the Leafs’ left-wing depth — at the moment — is pretty scarce. This means, at least theoretically, Robertson could have a better chance this season to seize an impact roll for Toronto than he has at anytime in the past. But, at least so far, none of those factors have led him to reconsider his desire for a fresh start. But that could all change in a hurry.

Robertson has dressed in just 87 games for Toronto over parts of four seasons, tallying 17 goals and 34 points. The California product suited up for six of the Maple Leafs’ seven postseason games last spring, recording zero points against the Boston Bruins in their first-round matchup.