The consequences of the Mitch Marner trade will follow Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs throughout the 2025–26 NHL season. As the organization faces a crucial decision on a young talent, its new additions may influence the team’s perspective.
The 2025 NHL offseason won’t soon be forgotten in Hogtown. Watching the homegrown kid leave for Sin City will be a memory that follows this team for some while. However, Matthews and company must move on and they are trying to do so.
Shortly after Marner skipped town, the Buds welcomed new teammates such as Matias Maccelli, Nicholas Roy, and Dakota Joshua. There’s one important piece of business left to take care of, however. Restricted free agent Nicholas Robertson has filed for salary arbitration and the Leafs have yet to agree on an extension with the 23-year-old.
Out of the 11 players who filed for arbitration, Robertson is the only one still without a contract at this stage of the offseason. His hearing is set for August 3, and until then, the Leafs and his camp can continue working toward a deal.
Nick Robertson #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena on September 28, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Simply won’t work anymore
On that note, the organization in The Six may have taken a firm stance on Matthews’ teammate—one that may have been influenced by the flurry of moves following Marner’s departure.
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“It’s tough to see a fit for Robertson in the Leafs roster anymore after they added Joshua,” Adam Proteau stated on The Hockey News. “He’s the only RFA left who’s scheduled for arbitration. The Leafs could see an option to trade him for some kind of asset at this point.“
Back where it all began
Joshua is no stranger to the Maple Leafs’ organization, though he has yet to play an NHL game wearing their colors. The Michigan native was drafted by Toronto in 2014 but didn’t make his NHL debut until the 2020–21 season—by then, with the St. Louis Blues. Now, he’s finally back at the facilities he first joined over a decade ago, this time hoping to establish himself.
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“When you’re young, you’re just kind of happy to be around—putting on the Leafs development camp gear and getting a feel for things, not really realizing all the steps it takes to actually make the team one day,” Joshua said in dialogue with The Leafs Nation. “So now, having a couple of years under my belt and really coming into my own, it means a lot to be joining the Leafs at this point and help go get a Cup.”
