The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to strengthen their third-center position, and one trade proposal could help them fill that need.
Using the PuckGM tool on PuckPedia, a trade scenario has been suggested in which the Maple Leafs acquire Morgan Geekie from the Boston Bruins. In exchange, Toronto would send Nick Robertson and a 2025 fifth-round pick to Boston.
This trade makes sense for both teams. Toronto would gain a third-line center in Geekie, while Boston would get a young forward in Robertson, who could add scoring depth—an area where the Bruins have struggled. Geekie is in the final year of his $4 million, two-year deal and could be a valuable addition to the Leafs’ lineup. The 26-year-old was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017, claimed by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, and signed with Boston in 2023. He has played 267 NHL games, recording 39 goals and 65 assists for 104 points.
In return, Robertson, who has expressed a desire to be traded due to frustration over his limited role, could be moved. Though he signed a one-year deal with Toronto, he has often found himself as a healthy scratch, making a trade for a more impactful player a sensible move for the Leafs.
NHL analyst Adam Proteau of *The Hockey News* believes it’s time for Toronto to move on from Robertson. He suggests that with the return of injured forwards Calle Jarnkrok and Connor Dewar, Toronto’s forward depth could create a logjam, making a trade for Robertson inevitable. Proteau recommends that the Leafs trade Robertson for a couple of mid-tier draft picks or a decent prospect, arguing that his fit in Toronto is no longer viable.
Robertson was selected in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft and has played 99 NHL games, recording 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points.
Meanwhile, the Bruins have been off to a slow start this season, sitting at 7-7-1 after 15 games, in fourth place in the Atlantic Division. Their offensive struggles have been a key concern, with head coach Jim Montgomery expressing frustration over the team’s lack of scoring. Despite the challenges, star forward David Pastrnak has expressed support for Montgomery’s efforts to spark the offense by mixing up line combinations.
The Bruins are scheduled to play the Ottawa Senators on November 9.