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Penguins Q&A: What a Robertson Trade Would Look Like

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Pittsburgh Penguins trade talk, Nick Robertson

From the super secret Pittsburgh Hockey Now offices, shared only by low-level superheroes, cheap co-working desks, and a dedicated hockey scribe, the pop-up Pittsburgh Penguins Q&A edition has one primary theme that connects Nick Robertson, Penguins prospects, and Penguins trades.

It’s all about youth.

Glory days. They’ll pass you by. And that is quickly happening to the Penguins’ core. As we looked back at the pivotal moments that shaped what was, what is, and what’s to come, the end only seemed closer.

The approaching end, whether captain Sidney Crosby re-signs soon or not, has also shaped president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas’s actions. He’s been buying draft picks by taking unwanted veterans. Last week, he took a big swing, packaging up top prospect Brayden Yager in exchange for the more highly rated Winnipeg Jets’ top prospect, Rutger McGroarty.

Fans photographed McGroarty paparazzi-style in the Strip District over the weekend, and I can’t think of a better place to introduce him to Pittsburgh. He’s not old enough to get to know Johnny at Roland’s, and that’s the reason McGroarty represents such optimism.

He’s young and capable of contributing to the Penguins lineup.

So, if you’ve got a hungry heart, that’s where we’ll begin the Q&A. We’ll probably do a subscriber-only chat later in the week. (Thanks to the 115 newbies who joined this band of rebel sports reporters rewriting the industry. Join PHN+ here. Use code Dan10 to get 10 bucks off)

Penguins Q&A

 

Answer: First, we can confirm that Dubas really likes Robertson. That should chum the waters just a little more.

We wrote back in May that Robertson should be high on Dubas’s target list (*ahem, first!). Both PHN and Dubas were present in the 2020 bubble playoffs–In the training camp leading up to the tournament, Robertson set tongues wagging. Toronto was ready to build statues of the then 18-year-old, who was a mere second-round pick.

He’s not a big winger (5-foot-10, 183 pounds), but he’s got “it.”

GM’ing 101, let’s start with the basics. Like Dylan Holloway, whom the St. Louis Blues swiped from the Edmonton Oilers via an offer sheet two weeks ago, Robertson is an unproven commodity with loads of talent but a delayed progression. His salary range is about $2 million, which puts his offer-sheet value at a third-round pick.

However, Robertson, a left-wing, was blocked and didn’t always seize the day. He groused a bit last season, which has culminated in the current standoff between him and the Maple Leafs organization. Robertson is a restricted free agent, so the acquisition has two paths.

The Penguins could offer-sheet him. Anything below $2.29 million will cost the offering team only a third-rounder.

Here’s where it gets tricky. Toronto has only 12 forwards on the NHL roster and $1.275 million in cap space, including Robertson, but they have no obvious place to trim the fat. The team is top-heavy upfront and on the blue line.

To make things more fun, Toronto is also sitting on Easton Cowan and Minten Fraser, a pair of under-21 prospects who surely look ready.

So here’s how it works: The Penguins have about $2 million when pared to 13 forwards, but the Penguins do have 19 forwards who could, with some level of competence, play in the NHL.

Our industry sources in Toronto believe Toronto GM Brad Treliving would match a $2.29 million offer in order to effect a better trade.

So, let’s think out of the box just a bit. Let’s say Dubas sends someone off his NHL roster, such as Cody Glass (with a 50% salary holdback), to Toronto for future considerations, then offer sheets Robertson, who agrees to about a $2 million deal. Toronto accepts the trade and declines to match, thus also receiving the Penguins 2025 third-rounder. It’s similar to St. Louis quietly trading a second-tier player to Edmonton when they declined to match the offers for Holloway and Philip Broberg.

Dubas could buy off Toronto with a backdoor trade.

Are you okay with a third-rounder and an NHL player for Robertson?

The simpler path is a straight-up trade—perhaps even a sign-and-trade. Robertson signs a three-year, $6 million deal, and Dubas sends Toronto a player with value.

One issue to watch: Toronto also has a Mitch Marner problem–he hasn’t signed a new contract for next season and doesn’t appear to be interested in such talks. So, Toronto and GM Brad Treliving could be looking at Robertson as Marner insurance, making a trade or amicable deal more difficult.

Count PHN in favor of Robertson. As noted, we were there in 2020. The kid can be an electric player.

Answer: Well, Robertson is a LW, but let’s assume Robertson is unavailable.

The short answer is you don’t. Young and talented players aren’t out there for the taking very often. It’s about acquiring high draft picks or hitting the jackpot on a second or third-rounder. Realize, the Penguins hit big on Jake Guentzel, but he didn’t debut until more than three years after his draft day.

McGroarty might be that guy, but I’m a little skeptical of putting him there in his rookie year. His skating is a little dubious, too. But hey, maybe he works.

Otherwise, the best hope is that Drew O’Connor continues his slow progression from bubble-spot grinder to top-six power forward.

Thanks, Jim. Don’t forget, the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo begins Sept. 14. I think the prospects team will have aa day or two of practices before then, so it makes sense to come into town, get your legs, and get ready to make a good showing.

McGroarty will be on the NHL roster. Vasily Ponomarev will be in the battle, but the glut of forwards doesn’t bode well for his chances. However, Ponomarev is waivers exempt, so a tie goes against him.

I’m quite interested in seeing Broz and Murashov in camp against the NHL talent. I was quite impressed with Broz in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and I think fans will quickly clamor for Murashov (well before he’s ready) when they get a look at his game.

The Penguins’ average age is now below 30. Putting McGroarty AND Ponomarev in the lineup might get it down to 29 or so.

Those tickets will go FAST. It might already be too late. By now, you shoulda somehow realized what you gotta do.

If it coincides with the F1 Western Europe string, it’s a no-brainer. Silverstone is a bucket list.

Let’s do it. But stay sober, my friend.

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