Leafs Coach Craig Berube's Recent Comments on Nick Robertson Come as a Bit of a Surprise
Nicholas Robertson has just one goal on the season for the Maple Leafs and Craig Berube's recent comments about his play are somewhat surprising.
At the end of October, Robertson was a healthy scratch for two games leading into November. At the time, he expressed his frustration, but understood that he wasn't doing his job.
Through 18 games, the 2019 second-round pick has just 1 goal, which came the week before he was scratched for consecutive games. The 22-year-old signed a one-year deal just before training camp opened just two months after sumbitting a trade request, asking for a fresh start.
Robertson has certainly gotten his fresh start under Craig Berube, given that he has remained a constant in the lineup despite his lack of production. Under Sheldon Keefe, if he wasn't producing, Robertson was often a healthy scratch.
Following Sunday's victory over the Utah Hockey Club, Berube was asked about Robertson's struggles so far this season and while he hasn't produced offensively, Berube was quick to acknowledge that the work he is doing away from the puck is not going unnoticed.
He just has to stick with it. It is going to go in eventually for him. We all feel for him. We want him to put the puck in the net. It is not easy. I wouldn't know anything about it because I didn't worry about that (as a player). But he is the type of player who wants to score goals. That is part of his job. He did some real good things tonight, even though he didn't score."
As the Leafs continue to look to make an addition in the forward group, particularly at the center position, Robertson's name has once again surfaced in trade rumours.
Berube's post-game comments on Sunday might indicate that he is happy with Robertson's play away from the puck and that he intends to continue to give the California native every opportunity going forward.
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