TSN: Chris Johnston on the first Up present on TSN 590 radio on the rumors surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs, their depth at left wing and Nick Robertson.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Aaron Korolnek: “I wished to ask you to start these rumors across the Toronto Maple Leafs who’re contemplating choices at left wing. And we all know it’s (Matthew) Knies, and (Bobby) McMann, and possibly some mixture of (Max) Domi and (Pontus) Holmberg, Connor Dewar, possibly Easton Cowan can consider there.
What have you ever heard with respect to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their pursuit of left wing depth?
Johnston: “Properly I feel, , clearly, at this stage of the summer time, , the Leafs are nonetheless working via what occurs with Nick Robertson, who you didn’t point out. However, however he, , there’s a reasonably clear path for him to be a part of the combo at left wing. To doubtlessly have a job, , that exceeds what he’s had previously.
However, , at this stage, Nick Robertson doesn’t appear inclined to register Toronto, and, , is sticking to the concept that he’d prefer to play elsewhere. And so I feel they need to sort of type that out first or as a part of this.
So, , it’s not as if there are, , 5 or 6 high-quality gamers on the market that, that might play that place, that may be signed. However I feel that, , clearly the group acknowledges it’s an space that, , they’re going to need to, , tackle, particularly if Robertson isn’t a part of the plans.
However, , we’ve had a number of gamers previously, however not all the time publicly, , assume that their their time’s up with a company, , have these sort of requests, and it doesn’t all the time result in a parting of the methods.
And so I feel that’s in all probability the very first thing that must be sorted out as a part of determining, , what that left aspect goes to seem like, , come coaching camp within the begin of the yr.
Carlo Colaiacovo: “So sorry, CJ, are you able to elaborate on that just a little bit. So Nick Robertson isn’t traded and he’s not signed, do you see a state of affairs the place he doesn’t report back to camp?
I imply, only in the near past, we noticed (Yaroslav) Askerov, the goalie in Nashville demand a commerce, after which we see Barry Trotz come out and say, ‘No, we don’t care what he’s going to say, he’s going to report the camp,’ after which a pair days later, he’s traded.
How do you truly count on this Robertson scenario to play out? Does he maintain out or does he get traded?
Johnston: “You understand, it’s, it’s a troublesome one to say. I imply, actually, it actually comes right down to the participant finally. Does the participant have the specified or the, the flexibility to stay to a commerce request? Or, , because it will get nearer to camp, and if the Leafs determine to not commerce them, or they will’t discover one, a transfer that is sensible. You understand, Is he actually going to take a seat out?
I don’t understand how Nick and , will reply on this scenario. And I feel it’s virtually arduous to know till you get to the defining moments. However let’s, let’s (dig out?) just a little bit. I imply, Nick Robertson’s 22 years previous. The Leafs have modified head coaches.
You understand, a part of, I feel it’s the satisfaction or, what he’s involved about his function during the last couple of years, that he’s been yo-yo’ed, just a little bit. Clearly, a giant a part of that’s that he’s been injured, a pair completely different important accidents in current seasons.
However, , this yr he would want waivers. So it’s not as if he’s going to be despatched to the minors I wouldn’t assume. He’s received an opportunity to, , play for a brand new coach and, and the Leafs don’t have as many gamers forward of him on the depth chart as they’ve had.
So, , I feel there’s, there’s positively a path to and an actual one, not, not simply, , lip service, for him to have a much bigger function. And so finally, we received to see what they determine.
However , he had a reasonably good yr final yr, 14 objectives, 13 of them at even power, for somebody who performed, , 9 or 10 minutes an evening and didn’t play all 82 video games, I feel there’s some promise there for him.
However that being stated, , I don’t know if there’s a number of groups banging down the door to, to pay him some exorbitant sum of cash. So, actually, I feel it makes probably the most sense for the Leafs to maintain him. However , at a sure level, clearly, that may require Nick to signal a contract and be prepared to return to camp. S
o , it’s going to be a narrative that in all probability will acquire in significance right here as we get to mid-September and see actually, , is he going to stay to his weapons, or, finally, is he going to determine it’s finest for him to proceed his profession in Toronto and simply see how issues go? And possibly that, possibly they make an settlement, a aspect settlement, okay, signal this deal one yr, deal possibly. And if it’s not working at a sure level, we’ll transfer you.
However , that is, and I don’t know the way it’s going to play out is de facto what I’m saying, however I do assume, , it makes a of sense from his finish and the Leafs finish to finally find yourself collectively. I simply, , I don’t know if that’s going to occur or not.”
