Overview

• The Maple Leafs filed for $1.2 million while Robertson requested $2.25 million, leaving a gap exceeding $1 million before the hearing.
• The August 3 arbitration, the sole remaining hearing this offseason, will decide Robertson’s next salary and his role in Toronto’s lineup.
• Experts warn arbitration could undercut the 23-year-old’s confidence based on Ilya Samsonov’s post-hearing struggles in 2023.
• Comparable rulings point to a likely award near $1.75 million to $1.8 million if no settlement is reached.
• A pre-hearing settlement would preserve Robertson’s trade value by easing post-Marner salary-cap pressure.