Nick Robertson’s move to the Pittsburgh Penguins gave him the chance for a fresh start that he had seemingly been chasing for years during his time in Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Robertson to Pittsburgh on July 1 for a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. The deal reunited the winger with Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas, who drafted him with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2019 draft while running Toronto’s front office.
Although Robertson's role didn't change much last season and the Maple Leafs as a whole struggled mightily, he is coming off his best campaign in the NHL.
Robertson had 16 goals and 16 assists, both career highs, in 78 games for the Maple Leafs while averaging 11:18 of ice time. He scored at least 14 goals in his last three straight seasons, but he never earned a large role within Toronto's roster.
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Now, Robertson's next contract with Pittsburgh has entered yet another arbitration process after his deal with the Maple Leafs, in parallel with the trade.
The NHL Players' Association announced Sunday that Robertson was one of 15 players to elect salary arbitration before the 5 p.m. ET deadline. He was the only Penguins player to file.
Robertson can still negotiate with Pittsburgh and sign a contract before any hearing, with those scheduled from July 20 to Aug. 1.
The filing, however, makes Robertson ineligible to sign an offer sheet with another team. That will inevitably keep him with the Penguins for now while the sides continue working toward a deal.
Robertson is already familiar with the arbitration process. The winger entered an offseason standoff in 2024 and ended up with a one-year deal. His contract situation with the Maple Leafs went through arbitration in 2025. Ultimately, the long-rumored split finally arrived with the Penguins trade.
Robertson made $1.82 million last season, and an arbitrator could determine his next salary if the sides do not reach an agreement before the hearing.
Nick Robertson's older brother and Dallas Stars winger, Jason, also filed for arbitration on Sunday amid his own dramatic offseason saga.
