If you're looking for Nick Robertson to make the Leafs out of camp, one reporter has some bad news for you
Last fall, the Leafs' 2019 2nd round pick, Nick Robertson, threw everything at the opposition in the preseason, including the kitchen sink. He racked up points at a breakneck pace and seemed earmarked for the Maple Leafs' roster to start the season. However, when the final cuts were made, Robertson began the season in the AHL.
Sportsnet's Luke Fox, a popular Maple Leafs reporter, was recently asked about whether or not Robertson will make the team out of training camp this time around. His response was a pretty definitive "no". His rationale was pretty iron-clad.
"Well, the cap-pressed Leafs are once again carrying a tight roster (likely fewer than 23 bodies), and the soon-to-be-22-year-old Robertson is once again exempt from waivers, plus he hasn't played a game since suffering his season-ending shoulder injury on Dec. 8.
A peek at Toronto's left-wing depth chart shows that Robertson will have to outduel Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Matthew Knies and, say, Sam Lafferty to secure a spot. Among that group, only Knies is exempt from waivers, and his post-season revealed a cap-friendly NHLer." - Luke Fox on Robertson's chances of securing a roster spot out of camp
A peek at Toronto's left-wing depth chart shows that Robertson will have to outduel Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Matthew Knies and, say, Sam Lafferty to secure a spot. Among that group, only Knies is exempt from waivers, and his post-season revealed a cap-friendly NHLer." - Luke Fox on Robertson's chances of securing a roster spot out of camp
When you put it like that, there's almost no way Robertson will beat out any of Bertuzzi, Domi or Knies for a roster spot. His only chance would be to so definitively beat out Calle Jarnkrok or Sam Lafferty that the Leafs have no other choice. The other option is to shift Robertson over to the right side, where his chances are no better, competing against Marner, Nylander Jarnkrok, Lafferty and Reaves. With Lafferty and Jarnkrok having the ability to play both wings and center, their versatility will be a much greater asset to the Leafs.
The one way that Robertson might have a shot is if the Leafs were to trade Lafferty or Jarnkrok either before camp opens up or at some point before the season begins. I'm not so sure that will occur.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 8 | 270 ANSWERS If you're looking for Nick Robertson to make the Leafs out of camp, one reporter has some bad news for you Where do you think Nick Robertson will start the 2023-24 season? | ||
| NHL | 66 | 24.4 % |
| AHL | 137 | 50.7 % |
| With another team | 67 | 24.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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