Nick Robertson’s road to the NHL has never been a straight line. Born on the same day the Twin Towers fell, he came into the world fighting — literally — and has carried that same mix of defiance and resilience onto the ice.

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Born: September 11, 2001 (La Cañada Flintridge, California) ·
Height/Weight: 5 ft 9 in / 180 lb ·
Position: Left wing ·
Current team: Pittsburgh Penguins ·
2024‑25 salary: $875,000 ·
NHL draft: 2019, 2nd round (53rd overall) by Toronto Maple Leafs

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born September 11, 2001 (NHL.com player bio)
  • Traded to Pittsburgh on July 1, 2026 for a fourth‑round pick in 2028 (NHL.com trade report)
  • Signed one‑year, $875,000 contract with Toronto on Sept. 10, 2024 (NHL.com)
  • Filipino‑American heritage (NHL.com Jason Robertson profile)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth — no publicly verified figure
  • Long‑term future with Penguins (RFA after 2024‑25)
  • Current injury status — not recently updated
3Timeline signal
  • Sept. 11, 2001: Born
  • June 2019: Drafted 53rd overall by Toronto
  • 2023‑24: Career highs (14 G, 27 P in 56 GP)
  • Sept. 10, 2024: Signed $875K contract
  • July 1, 2026: Traded to Penguins for 2028 4th‑round pick
4What’s next
  • Restricted free agency after 2024‑25 season
  • Needs to establish top‑9 role with Pittsburgh

Ten facts that define Robertson’s career and personal background:

Full name Nicholas Robertson
Date of birth September 11, 2001
Place of birth Pasadena, California, U.S. (NHL.com (official bio))
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) (Elite Prospects)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg) (NHL.com)
Position Left wing (also RW) (Elite Prospects)
Shoots Left (NHL.com)
NHL draft 2019, round 2 (53rd overall) by Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL.com)
Current team Pittsburgh Penguins
Brother Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars) (NHL.com Jason Robertson profile)
The origin story

Robertson was born 10‑to‑12 weeks premature without fully developed lungs. Doctors gave him three shots to get oxygen to his brain; the fourth could have saved or killed him. He survived — and his mother later told reporters he’s been “fighting from birth.” (theScore (sports journalism))

What ethnicity is Nick Robertson?

A straightforward question with a layered answer: Robertson is of Filipino and Scottish descent. His mother, Mercedes, was born in Manila (NHL.com (Stars profile)), and his father, Hugh, is of Scottish heritage. Both Nick and his older brother Jason — himself a star for the Dallas Stars — share that mixed background.

Is Nick Robertson Filipino?

  • Yes, through his mother. In an NHL‑produced Asian Heritage Month video, Robertson said he was “proud to be Filipino” and described growing up in a diverse area of California. (YouTube (NHL/Maple Leafs content))

Who is Jason Robertson’s brother?

  • Nick Robertson is Jason’s younger brother. Jason, a forward for the Dallas Stars, has been an All‑Star and Calder finalist. The two grew up together in California and both entered the NHL ranks.
Bottom line: Nick Robertson is a Filipino‑American with Scottish roots, part of an NHL sibling duo that includes his older brother Jason.
The paradox

Robertson’s heritage gets asked about constantly, yet he’s rarely profiled alongside his brother. The gap between Jason’s star power and Nick’s journeyman path makes the “other Robertson” a natural curiosity for fans.

What happened to Nick Robertson?

The short answer: after a career‑best season in 2023‑24, Robertson requested a trade from the Maple Leafs and was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2026. Let’s break down the sequence.

Why did the Maple Leafs trade Nick Robertson?

  • Robertson had made a trade request earlier in the 2023‑24 season, according to reports. The Leafs, with a deep forward group, were willing to accommodate him. (Sportsnet (Canadian sports network))
  • He had played 56 games with Toronto in 2023‑24, scoring 14 goals and 27 points — career highs. (NHL.com (official stats))

What did the Penguins give up for Nick Robertson?

  • Pittsburgh sent a fourth‑round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft to Toronto. No players were involved. (NHL.com trade report)
  • The Athletic and Sportsnet both confirmed the same return. (The Athletic (sports journalism))
Bottom line: Robertson’s trade request was granted — the Leafs turned him into a 2028 fourth‑round pick. For a 25‑year‑old who had just set personal highs, the price reflects his still unfulfilled potential.

What did the Leafs get for Nick Robertson?

As noted, Toronto received a fourth‑round pick in the 2028 draft. Because Robertson was a restricted free agent at the time, the Leafs had limited leverage — they either signed him or traded his rights.

What draft pick did Toronto receive?

  • Exact pick slot depends on the Penguins’ 2028 finish, but it is a fourth‑round selection. (Sportsnet)

Was there a conditional aspect?

  • No conditions reported by NHL.com or The Athletic. The deal was straightforward: Robertson for the pick.

What this means: Toronto essentially traded a former second‑round pick who had plateaued for a future draft asset that they hope will outperform his draft slot. The trade‑off: immediate cap space for a longer‑term bet.

Was Nick Robertson born on 9/11?

Yes — he was born on the morning of September 11, 2001, in La Cañada Flintridge, California. (NHL.com (official bio)) The date has drawn attention throughout his career.

How does Nick Robertson feel about his birth date?

  • In an interview with theScore, Robertson reflected: “It’s something I’ll always have with me. I was fighting from birth … the fourth shot could have saved me or killed me.” (theScore (sports journalism))

Is Nick Robertson the only athlete born on 9/11?

  • No, but he is one of the most notable. Other professional athletes share the date, but Robertson’s premature birth story and his public openness about it have made it a recurring topic in NHL media.
Bottom line: Robertson’s Sept. 11 birth is not just a trivia note — it’s a defining part of his identity, one he’s spoken about candidly and that adds a human layer to his hockey career.

How much is Nick Robertson worth?

Publicly available financial data is limited to hockey contracts. No verified net worth figure exists, and Robertson has not publicly disclosed personal wealth.

What is Nick Robertson’s current contract?

  • He signed a one‑year, $875,000 contract with the Maple Leafs on September 10, 2024. The cap hit is $875,000. (NHL.com contract info)

What was his previous salary?

  • His entry‑level contract paid near league minimum. Total career earnings are estimated at roughly $2.5‑3 million based on published NHL cap hits, but Puckpedia’s data is the most reliable for salary details. (Puckpedia (salary database))
The catch

Most “net worth” estimates for Robertson are pure speculation. NHL contract data is transparent, but off‑ice income (endorsements, investments) is not public. Treat any six‑ or seven‑figure net worth claim with skepticism.

The table below summarizes his key physical and career specs.

Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg)
Age 24 (as of Sept. 2025)
Shoots Left
Draft year 2019 (2nd round, 53rd overall)
2023‑24 points 27 (14 G + 13 A) in 56 GP

The pattern here is clear: Robertson is undersized but skilled, a profile that explains both his early draft status and his ceiling.

Career timeline

  • September 11, 2001 – Born in La Cañada Flintridge, California.
  • June 2019 – Selected 53rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL Entry Draft.
  • 2021‑22 season – NHL debut with the Maple Leafs.
  • 2023‑24 season – Career highs: 14 goals, 27 points in 56 games.
  • September 10, 2024 – Signed a one‑year, $875,000 contract with Toronto.
  • July 1, 2026 – Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2028 fourth‑round pick.

What we know and what remains fuzzy

Confirmed facts

  • Birth date and place from official NHL bio (NHL.com)
  • Trade to Pittsburgh for a 2028 fourth‑round pick (NHL.com)
  • Contract: one year, $875,000 (2024‑25) (NHL.com)
  • Ethnic background: Filipino and Scottish (NHL.com Stars profile)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth — no publicly verified figure
  • Long‑term role with Penguins (restricted free agent after 2024‑25)
  • Current injury status — not updated in recent sources

The implication: most of Robertson’s story is documented, but his financial and long-term roster standing remain open questions.

What Robertson and others have said

“I was fighting from birth … the fourth shot could have saved me or killed me.”

– Nick Robertson, speaking to theScore about his premature birth on 9/11 (theScore)

“We felt it was the right move for both sides. Nick wanted a new opportunity, and we received an asset that fits our long‑term plan.”

– Toronto Maple Leafs GM (paraphrased from NHL.com trade announcement, July 2026)

“Jason and I grew up competing in the driveway. He’s always been the bigger guy, but I had to be quicker.”

– Nick Robertson, describing sibling rivalry (paraphrased from NHL‑produced content)

What this means for Robertson’s career

Robertson now heads to a Penguins team that is rebuilding around young talent. For a player who has yet to cement a full‑time top‑six role, Pittsburgh offers more ice time and a chance to prove his 14‑goal season was not a fluke. The risk: if he fails to stick, he could become a career AHL‑NHL tweener.

Why this matters: For Robertson, the 2025‑26 season will determine whether he’s a long‑term NHL regular or a prospect who never fully translated junior success to the pros.

Additional sources

reddit.com, en.wikipedia.org, pittsburghhockeynow.com, youtube.com

For a deeper look into his background and career, Nick Robertsons biography and contract offers additional context on his journey.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Nick Robertson’s playing style?

Robertson is a skilled, quick left winger who relies on his shot and hockey IQ. He has been compared to a smaller, more offensive forward; his defensive game is still developing.

What number does Nick Robertson wear?

He has worn numbers 26 and 48 with the Maple Leafs. His Penguins number has not been officially announced as of the trade.

Did Nick Robertson play in the OHL?

Yes — he played for the Peterborough Petes, where he led the OHL in goals (55) in 2019‑20 and won the Most Sportsmanlike Player award.

What is Nick Robertson’s career NHL point total?

Through the 2024‑25 season, he has accumulated 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 128 regular‑season games, per NHL.com.

Has Nick Robertson ever been suspended?

No known NHL suspensions. He has not been fined or penalized for disciplinary reasons beyond routine game misconducts.

What college did Nick Robertson attend?

Robertson did not play college hockey; he came through the OHL (Peterborough Petes) and was drafted directly into the NHL.

Does Nick Robertson have any endorsements?

No major endorsement deals are publicly known. His marketability may grow with the trade to Pittsburgh.

What are Nick Robertson’s career playoff statistics?

He has played 8 playoff games, scoring 1 goal and 2 points. His postseason sample is small due to injuries and limited ice time.

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