Quoting: NorthernLeafsFan05
He should be played more, but he isn't because of what the Leafs value at the moment. Guys like Bertuzzi, Knies, McMann, and Dewar are all LWs that the Leafs value in high regard due to physicality / defensive play / PK ability, Robertson is not a fit on this team. That's not to say he's a bad player (far from it actually), just that there's no room on the Leafs. That's why you're seeing him traded left right and center. There's just nowhere for him to play.
Robby being traded endlessly isn't a reflection of who he is as a player, it's a reflection of Torontos changing roster philosophies. Nick Robertson is an extremely valuable player and I guarantee if he was given top 6 ice time, he'd breakout.
I think it's more; there's only 9 spots in the top 9: the obvious 4: Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Nylander take up 4/9 spots...
Bertuzzi and Domi take up the other 2/9 spots... So that means 6/9 spots are taken...
In this scenario, Keller takes up another spot: 7/9 spots
Knies will/has taken up a spot: 8/9 spots
McMann's earned his way onto a spot: 9/9 spots
Robertson should get a spot: 10/9 spots
Holmberg deserves a spot: 11/9 spots
Jarnkrok should have a spot: 12/9 spots
We all know Robertson shouldn't be on the 4rth line, so he and 10/11 other guys are competing for 9 spots, with 6 of them basically being locked up...