Nick Robertson has always shown promise. However, a spate of injuries has limited his ability to demonstrate whether he can or cannot be successful in the NHL. A former Toronto Maple Leafs second-round pick, he finally had a season without injuries. In small minutes, he showed that his scoring ability had not waned.
Now, he could find himself in a numbers game at left wing. Known for his elite shooting, Robertson did fine playing bottom-six minutes. However, the argument has always been that his skill set might be underutilized in a bottom-six role. To maximize his potential, he’d need to be playing alongside offensive-minded forwards and seeing consistent power-play
former head coach Sheldon Keefe didn’t completely trust Robertson’s defensive awareness. That likely will become a red flag for a Craig Berube-coached team. However, you can bet that Robertson still holds significant value (as untapped as that potential might be) on the free agent market.
Robertson’s Journey: A Tale of Hanging in There
For many Maple Leafs fans, myself included, Robertson’s journey has been inspiring. From his premature birth and battling against the odds of survival to overcoming injuries during his career, Robertson’s stability of purpose has captured the interest of his supporters. His dedication is evident. During the challenging times of COVID-19, he stayed in Toronto, away from his family, and worked tirelessly to improve his game. He’s consistently demonstrated an unwavering determination to become a strong NHL player, often practicing alone on the ice
