TSN: Chris Johnston on Nick Robertson’s standing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, that there’s a chance for him, however will he re-sign with the group?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Jamie McLennan: “I need to return to Nick Robertson. The place do you assume these talks are, or the place do you assume they’ll find yourself? In a state of affairs the place, I don’t, do you imagine, he’s a younger participant, 22, I believe he had what, 13, 14 objectives final yr?
Jeff O’Neill: “Nicely, he received unhappy a bunch of instances, and each time he got here again he scored.”
McLennan: “I do know, however what like, okay, so, what’s he? Is he, I don’t know what he’s as a participant but. Is he a 9, a top-nine? Is he a top-six? Does he imagine? The place do you assume he suits?
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After which, clearly, with each greenback counting, with them being tight in opposition to the cap, like, not like they will supply him an enormous increase right here. So, , the place do you assume this all ends? Or, , the place do you assume that he can match? As a result of if they’re bringing different guys, they, there could be guys that push him out of the lineup.
Johnston: “For positive. And what’s distinctive right here, this doesn’t appear to be, , associated to cash. It’s not as if there’s a breakdown in negotiations.
I imply, this commerce request was made, , after he acquired his, , , after they retained his rights as an RFA and a (inaudible), and so, , it’s not about cash. I believe it’s been in regards to the alternative.
And, , for these of us that don’t have any feelings concerned on this, simply simply watching from the surface, , I believe you sit right here on the impartial social gathering and say, Okay, that is the primary yr you’re not going to require waivers. Sorry, you’ll require waivers to go to Marlies, so that you’re doubtless not going to go on waivers. You’re gonna be within the NHL.
In case you had a problem along with your taking part in time, perhaps that was related to your head coach. Nicely the Leafs modified head coaches and Craig Berube is in cost now.
They usually’re simply not as deep, fairly frankly, on paper, as they’ve been in years passed by. I imply, I believe it’s fairly clear to see, Matthew Knies I believe will probably be a top-six possibility for them on left wing. Nobody else you may say for positive. I imply, perhaps Bobby McMann, coming off an harm, can fill that function. Perhaps it’s a Robertson. Perhaps it’s somebody who isn’t but signed, or a participant that finally ends up coming in on tryout.
However level is, there’s fairly clearly a chance there. And no less than up to now, Nick Robertson has been unwilling to need to proceed and signal on with the Leafs.
And so, the place does it find yourself? I imply, I believe it relies upon how strongly he believes in his convictions. Does he, is he prepared to take a seat out, , days, weeks, months, to show his level, to attempt to drive organizations hand.
I imply, in the end, that is completely different, even than many, a few years in the past, the place the (William) Nylander – Leafs arise, which, , standoff, which was about cash. Nylander was a fairly confirmed piece at that time. Clearly had room to develop, however was an essential member of the group.
I imply, I believe nobody can say with certainty what Nick Robertson is for the Leafs. I imply, fairly encouraging to see the variety of objectives he scored final yr, 14 of them, 13 and even energy. However, , can he do it over a time frame? May he deal with extra minutes? Can he be in additional of a prime-time function?
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I imply, I believe he’s received to nonetheless present it. He’s received to show it. And the one means to do this is, , in the end, by taking part in someplace. And so , he’s going to have nowhere to play, no less than in North America, if he continues to stay, , agency to his his want to be traded and the leafs don’t commerce him as a result of they management his rights so long as he’s a restrictive free agent.