The Toronto Maple Leafs may be on the approach of dealing Nick Robertson after he declined a contract extension, and the Columbus Blue Jackets could be a potential destination, according to Adam Proteau of The Hockey News.
Robertson is looking for fresh opportunities outside of Toronto after becoming a free agent on July 1.
“The Blue Jackets are in the early stages of another major rebuild, and that means there’s still going to be some jumbling within the roster,” Proteau told reporters. “If Columbus GM Don Waddell deals veteran forward Boone Jenner, a spot in the Jackets’ top-six would open up, and the pressure on Robertson would not be nearly so onerous in a quiet hockey media market like Ohio.”
It would make sense for Toronto to try to trade Robertson in exchange for a high draft pick and possibly a promising prospect. Robertson will be 23 years old when the 2024-25 season begins, and he is unlikely to reach his maximum potential as a pick.
Landing in Columbus would provide Robertson with the much-needed fresh start, while the Leafs would gain a point-scoring center in return by acquiring Jenner. 
Jenner scored 35 points in 58 games during the 2024 season, but he achieved that total in three consecutive years, scoring 44, 45, and finally 35 in 59, 68, and 58 games, respectively.
Chris Johnston, an NHL insider, initially revealed Robertson’s trade request on June 30. Speaking after the first day of free agency, Leafs GM Brad Treliving said, “There was some frustration with Nick,” but added, “There’s a great opportunity for Nick here,” per TSN’s Mark Masters. Toronto selected Robertson with the 53rd overall choice in 2019, but he has failed to establish a consistent role in the Maple Leafs lineup since his debut.
Robertson has only appeared in 87 regular-season games since the 2020-21 season (inclusive), scoring 17 goals and assisting on 17 others. During the 2023-24 season, Robertson scored 14 goals and 13 assists in 56 games but did not score in six playoff games. In an interview with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox published on April 11, Robertson expressed concern about his future with the Leafs. “This is my first negotiation. I can’t say I’m worried right now because I don’t really understand how this process works. But I have not heard anything. I just play. everything’s nice to know that [my agent] will handle everything, though. “I want to play and let him worry about it,” Robertson stated. Should the Maple Leafs consider a Boone Jenner trade?
From the Maple Leafs’ perspective, adding Jenner may be a strategic move to address significant team requirements while resolving the Robertson situation.
Jenner is on the opposite end of the professional spectrum from Robertson. The Blue Jackets’ captain is a 31-year-old experienced forward and former second-round pick. Jenner was chosen by Columbus in 2011, and he has spent 11 seasons with the team, amassing 364 points in 715 games. In 58 games during the 2023-24 season, the veteran center scored 22 goals and assisted on another 15. He is a talented center who can contribute on both offense and defense. He’d be one of the most valuable signings at this point in the offseason.
Furthermore, Jenner’s physicality and faceoff prowess should help the Leafs address some of their depth issues, and he appears to be a good match in new head coach Craig Berube’s system.
However, the salary cap plays a key role in any potential trade. Jenner’s current contract, which has a $3.75 million cap impact, is workable, but the Leafs would need to make modifications. According to PuckPedia, the Leafs’ cap space as of July 12 is $955,333.
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