William Nylander Addresses the Nick Robertson Push that Led to Injury in Leafs/Habs game

Long before Nick Robertson scored the game-winning goal in last night's matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens pre-season tilt, he was responsible for a strange play that led to Nylander being struck in the head, forcing him out of the game. Robertson attempted to push Nylander forward with his stick to help him gain speed on a backcheck, but Nylander was unaware of this and fell, resulting in the injury that forced him to leave the game.

Although Nylander didn't comment on the incident immediately after the game, he spoke about it openly on Friday after practice, with David Alter of The Hockey News capturing the comments on X:

While the play was clearly a mistake, it seems that Robertson bears the responsibility. This situation highlights a lack of communication. If Robertson had informed Nylander about his intention to give him the push, the incident could have been avoided. Fortunately, Nylander appears to have avoided any serious injury, as he was seen skating today, completing the full practice session.

Aside from the miscommunication, Robertson had a strong performance, scoring the game-winner on a beautiful strip, dangle and shoot play that the Canadiens were not prepared for in their D zone.

If Robertson hopes to secure a permanent spot on the Maple Leafs, he will need to improve his overall game and his communication out there. While his offensive talent is evident, he still makes defensive lapses that need to be addressed, especially with the level of competition.

After holding out to sign a contract, Robertson agreed to an $875K one-year prove-it deal with the Leafs. This is his opportunity to demonstrate whether he has the potential to be a game-changer in today's NHL.