Injury to Young Forward Opens the Door for the Leafs to Finally Trade Nick Robertson

On Monday, the Leafs announced a significant amount of roster cuts and demotions from their training camp roster before the team embarked on their annual Muskoka team building trip.

20-year-old Easton Cowan not only survived the cuts, but was taking regular reps in practice on the fourth line, almost confirming he has earned a spot on the opening night roster.

With Cowan's emergence at camp, Nick Robertson has once again found himself on the outside looking in as he joined David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok as the Leafs' 5th line on Monday.

Robertson has had a difficult time securing a full-time spot in the lineup since he joined the Leafs organization. Despite playing in 69 games last season, the former second-round pick was unable to earn enough trust from head coach Craig Berube to play in more than just 3 post-season games.

Undersized for the style of play Berube and GM Brad Treliving prefer, Robertson's future with the club is in question again with the San Jose Sharks reportedly showing a keen interest in the young forward earlier this week.

Although the Sharks expressed interest in the 23-year-old, Canucks forward Nils Hoglander suffered an injury on Wednesday last week in a pre-season game that required surgery.

The lower-body injury will keep the Swede out of the lineup for 8-to-10 weeks, but provides the Leafs an opportunity to give Robertson a fresh start and replenish some of their draft capital.

Hoglander and Robertson are similar in stature, but Hoglander has been more productive since joining the Canucks -- largely due to them giving him the opportunities the Leafs have failed to give Robertson.

Given the need for a forward and the Leafs' need to free up roster space, it seems the two clubs may be solid dance partners to complete a trade before the end of training camp that would benefit all parties involved.