The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks both have a young forward on the trade block who needs a change of scenery.
For Toronto, that's winger Nick Robertson, and for Chicago, that's center/winger Lukas Reichel.
Robertson and Reichel could very well each be moved in the next week before the puck drops on the start of the 2025-26 regular season. Suitors have been linked with interest in both players; however, could a simple solution see them swapped for one another?
Rob Ellis of NHL Trade Rumors believes it would make plenty of sense, and he's proposing that the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks link up and strike a deal.
"This is where the synergy becomes undeniable. The Blackhawks can offer Robertson what the Maple Leafs can’t: a guaranteed spot in the top six and prime power-play time. Imagine Robertson on the wing, fed one-timers from Bedard—it’s a tantalizing fit. In return, the Toronto Maple Leafs would acquire Reichel, a versatile forward and natural playmaker who could slot into the middle six and add a different dimension to their attack. He’s not the pure sniper Robertson is, but his creativity could help elevate his linemates," Ellis wrote.
Nick Robertson for Lukas Reichel. Both former first-rounders desperately need a change of scenery. Could this be the perfect one-for-one swap for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks? 👇 #LeafsForever #Blackhawks #NHLTradeRumors #nhl26 https://t.co/pBpfOd9yQO
— NHL Trade Rumors (@nhltraderumours) September 30, 2025
The 24-year-old Robertson recently signed a one-year, $1.825 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs, while the 23-year-old Reichel is entering the final season of the two-year, $1.2 million deal he signed to extend in Chicago in 2024.
Robertson has been linked to Western Conference teams
To further fuel the fire of a potential Nick Robertson for Lukas Reichel trade, the Maple Leafs winger has recently been mentioned to be drawing interest from several Western Conference teams.
The Chicago Blackhawks, of course, reside in the west and could very well be among the teams kicking tires on his services.
Toronto has been said to be looking for draft capital in return for Robertson, though a young NHL-ready player like Reichel could be even more intriguing for a team in win-now mode in need of a jolt.
It's certainly something to keep an eye on over the next week, and as we begin the season, because the writing appears to be on the wall for both of these disgruntled youngsters in their current situations.