Nick Robertson USA in action during the 2020 IIHF World Junior Ice hockey, Eishockey Championships quarterfinal match between USA and Finland in Trinec, Czech Republic, on January 2, 2020. CTKxPhoto/VladimirxPrycek CTKPhotoP202001020618601 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY PRY 0031

Nick Robertson reveals Sidney Crosby’s immediate welcome text after trade to Penguins

Jul 17, 2026, 12:00 PM CUT

Nick Robertson says Sidney Crosby was the first to text him after his trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1.

The Maple Leafs sent him to the Penguins for a 2028 fourth-round pick. This puts an end to his six-year run in Toronto. The move also reunited him with Penguins president and GM Kyle Dubas, who drafted him in 2019. Growing up idolizing Crosby, Robertson was moved by the immediate welcome.

“By the way, when I got traded to Pittsburgh, he was the first guy who texted me right away, so it was pretty nice to hear from him,” Robertson said on the July 17 episode of the Overdrive podcast by TSN.

Now he stands alongside Crosby as a teammate instead of a rival. Robertson explained what the quick text meant to him.

September 23, 2021, Toronto, on, Canada: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicholas Robertson, left, drives around Maple Leafs forward Nick Ritchie, right, during NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA training camp in Toronto on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Canada News - September 23, 2021 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAc35_ 20210923_zaf_c35_044 Copyright: xNathanxDenettex

"Obviously, Sidney Crosby, a legend in the game," added Robertson in the Overdrive podcast. "His leadership, the way he plays, how hard he plays, good two-way game. Going forward, I look forward to kind of learning from him about his leadership, how he is as a teammate, the way he carries himself."

Crosby became the 21st player in NHL history to score 600 career goals during Pittsburgh's 6-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 23, 2024.

Robertson was often set to play against Crosby as a Leafs winger. When the Maple Leafs and Penguins last met on Dec. 23, 2025, Toronto came away with a 6-3 win at Scotiabank Arena.

Crosby reached out to him and handed him a signed stick. Robertson still keeps the stick at his home in Michigan. Robertson admitted that he wants to study Crosby's two-way game, his strength on the puck, and the pace he plays with.

Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup champion who has worked with the Penguins for two decades as their longest-tenured captain since 2007. So a quick text from someone like him carried a lot of weight with it after a long journey.

Nick Robertson's journey from Toronto to Pittsburgh

Robertson spent parts of six seasons in Toronto's bottom six, never securing a full-time role.

According to an article from Pittsburgh Hockey Now, the Columbus Blue Jackets tried to explore a deal for him involving forward Egor Chinakhov in 2025. Before these talks were put into action, they started stalling.

Toronto picked Robertson as the 53rd overall pick in 2019. This was when Kyle Dubas still ran the team. He set his career highs last season with 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 78 games. That gave him 48 goals and 88 points across 234 career games. In Pittsburgh, he now works under new head coach Dan Muse, adding scoring depth to the middle six.

He filed for salary arbitration on July 5 but avoided a hearing. Robertson signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract with Pittsburgh this month. It is worth $3.25 million a year, and he will become a restricted free agent again once it expires.

What are your thoughts on Sidney's warm welcome for Robertson? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar