Arguably the largest unfastened finish for the Toronto Maple Leafs forward of coaching camp has been tied up, as Nicholas Robertson has agreed to phrases on a one-year, $875,000 contract after initially expressing a need for a recent begin elsewhere. That is definitely nice information for the left-wing-starved membership and a boon to normal supervisor Brad Treliving to have the total roster beneath contract whereas sustaining a little bit little bit of cap wiggle room. Nonetheless, let’s not fake that each one the water is beneath the bridge simply but.
It was a little bit over two months in the past that Robertson first made his commerce request, with no video games having been performed within the interim. Any points that the 22-year-old had with reference to accessible alternatives have solely been resolved insofar as he was offered on the assurances reportedly given by new head coach Craig Berube. The newly signed deal, then, acts as one thing of a ‘prove-it’ association for each side, providing one season to see if the connection between the participant and workforce can nonetheless be viable within the long-term.
Whereas Maple Leafs followers breathe a little bit sigh of reduction in retaining the 2019 second-round decide to shore up a quite skinny left-wing place, let’s discover what the ‘prove-it’ deal would possibly imply for each side.
Nicholas Robertson’s Facet
Even with Robertson beneath contract, the matter of why he wished out stays – and can absolutely be one thing that he might want to tackle as soon as camp opens. The Pasadena, California native lastly established himself as a full-time NHLer final season, recording 14 objectives in 56 video games (he spent 9 video games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies) and seeing motion in six of seven playoff video games. That stated, alternatives additional up the lineup had been nonetheless exhausting to return by and he averaged simply 11:23 of ice time within the common season, right down to 9:48 within the postseason.
If Robertson is decided to see his position with the membership develop earlier than committing long-term, then circumstances might in the end allow simply that. The Maple Leafs’ depth at left wing consists of Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, Pontus Holmberg and Conor Dewar, with Tyler Bertuzzi out of the image after signing with the Chicago Blackhawks this summer time. Inside that group, Robertson ought to slot in constantly someplace within the center six, presumably on the second line alongside William Nylander and John Tavares.
Robertson’s commerce demand got here on the eve of free company. Now that the roster has been fleshed out, he can probably see he’s anticipated to be a big a part of the puzzle. And if his unhappiness stemmed from different components associated to how the membership has been managed, maybe the brand new head coach will assist ease any issues. Berube isn’t identified to be the participant’s coach that Sheldon Keefe is, however some gamers reply higher to robust, defensive-minded bench bosses.
Assuming Robertson’s discontent isn’t associated to the town of Toronto, the followers, or another unchanging components, a scoring-line position and extra ice time ought to assist reap extra manufacturing whereas retaining the speedy winger glad – a possible win/win.
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The Maple Leafs’ Facet
Now, Berube and the Maple Leafs aren’t simply going to blindly hand Robertson a soft position and plentiful ice time as a result of he performed exhausting ball within the offseason. The trial nature of the 2024-25 NHL season is a two-way road for the participant and workforce. Simply as Robertson must see Toronto reveal a constant dedication, in addition they have to see a participant taking advantage of the alternatives given.
Can Robertson, as an illustration, stay greater on the membership’s positional depth chart than McMann? Final season, McMann had 15 objectives and 24 factors in 56 video games, posting eerily related numbers to Robertson (14 objectives and 27 factors in 56 video games). Robertson is about 5 years youthful, however that won’t matter a lot if McMann earns the coach’s belief early on.
The problems with Robertson have by no means been effort-related. Armed with high-level pace and a harmful shot, he’s proven elite scoring skill within the AHL and flashes of potential within the NHL. Nonetheless, he’s been held again by an incapacity to create house constantly and, maybe extra troubling, an incapacity to remain on the ice. Whereas developing by the ranks and bouncing between leagues, he has been slowed by knee accidents, fractured his fibula, and suffered a shoulder damage that required surgical procedure and ended his 2022-23 season.
Like many different expert forwards seeking to carve their place within the NHL, Robertson faces the problem of match. If he can reveal a constant scoring skill, he may cement himself as a mainstay among the many Maple Leafs’ prime strains – presumably for this season and past. If not, his 5-foot-9 body doesn’t appear suited to a depth checking line and so one other Marlies stint could possibly be within the playing cards.
Any frustration Robertson might have along with his expertise coming by the group is completely comprehensible. In 5 years since being drafted, he has been the topic of fixed back-and-forth transfers between leagues, to not point out inconsistent utilization alongside the way in which. A few of that isn’t his fault – few golf equipment have 4 long-tenured forwards locked into top-six spots just like the Maple Leafs do. However he does assume accountability right here in displaying that, even when he isn’t fairly on the extent of an Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner, he will be relied upon to ship constant secondary scoring.
That’s, in a nutshell, what’s on the road over the course of this ‘show it’ season. Robertson must see that the franchise is dedicated to his improvement and acknowledges him as a longtime NHL ahead, whereas the Maple Leafs want him to earn that recognition. In that sense, this new contract may mark a mutually-beneficial partnership between two motivated sides.
