Looking For Answers, Craig Berube Makes Surprising Top-6 Lineup Change
With the Toronto Maple Leafs beaten and battered up-front, Craig Berube has decided to give Nick Robertson a chance in the top-six with William Nylander.
Despite injuries plaguing a good chunk of their forward group, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won way more games than they've lost in recent weeks, going 6-1-0 since November 5th.
If losing Auston Matthews wasn't bad enough, they've also been without Max Domi, David Kampf, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, and can now add Matthew Knies to that list as he was officially ruled out of Sunday's game against Utah.
During Friday morning's practice session, Craig Berube tinkered with his lineup a little bit and placed Nick Robertson on the second line alongside Pontus Holmberg and William Nylander.
The 23-year-old forward has struggled once again to begin the 2024-25 season as he has just 1 goal to his name in 17 contests. He is coming off a career-year last year that saw him pot 14 goals and accumulate 27 points in 56 games.
The forward has dealt with his fair share of injuries over his young career but last year was the first time he was relatively healthy, however he spent a chunk of it either in the press box as a healthy scratch or down in the minors with the Toronto Marlies.
Nevertheless, in the midst of a 10-game goal-less streak, Berube has decided to give the forward a glorious opportunity to get his name back on the scoresheet and even admitted to liking a lot of what he's done in recent games, according to Nick Barden of The Hockey News.
"He got a chance to play with, and we'll see on Sunday, but with Willy. He gets in a good area of the ice and gets open, there's a guy that can find him. He's gotta put a couple in and get some confidence."
Robertson is excited about the opportunity of playing alongside Nylander and knows exactly what he needs to do to keep up with Swedish star.
As for his goal-less drought, Robertson believes it's only a matter of time before he hits the back of the net again. He echoed what Berube said about his play in recent games and lamented a few squandered opportunities along the way.
"I just gotta keep plugging away and not worrying about the past, not worrying about where it's at and just kind of take it game-by-game and focus on what I can do to have a good game."
There's no better time to get on the board than Sunday night against Utah with the club heavily relying on their new makeshift top-6 until the reinforcements make a return.
