Is The Writing On The Wall For Nick Robertson With The Toronto Maple Leafs?

The hockey gods have been especially tough on Nick Robertson. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs left winger has struggled to produce any offense this season – he’s got just one point in 17 games, one point less than defenseman Simon Benoit. He even played less ice time on Wednesday (10:29) than NHL call-ups Fraser Minten (15:49) and Nikita Grebenkin (11:05). 

Although Robertson practised on a top-two line alongside William Nylander on Friday, the Leafs also signed Alex Nylander to a one-year contract after he started the year on an AHL contract. He can play on either wing or at center.

The team is dealing with a handful of injuries to forwards right now, including Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, Max Domi, Max Pacioretty, David Kampf and more. This gives Robertson yet another chance to try to take on more responsibility in the top six.

But no matter what happens, it really feels like the writing on the wall for Robertson in Leafs Land at this point. We mentioned that at the beginning of the month, and he hasn't done anything to change that opinion, even as injuries to other players arise while call-ups make stronger impressions. 

That’s not necessarily a negative comment on Robertson’s value as an NHLer. He’s used his speed to his benefit, but he doesn’t seem to have the instincts to be in the right places at the right time. He’s under even more intense pressure to produce now that Minten has already scored in his first and only NHL game this season.

Even worse for Robertson is the time on ice he’s averaging – just 12:08 per game. Of the 17 forwards who have played for the Maple Leafs this season, that average is 12th. Only Steven Lorentz and Ryan Reaves have averaged less ice time among players with at least five games played.

Robertson isn’t a go-to player for the coaching staff right now, but Leafs coach Craig Berube tried to be optimistic on Friday.

"He's getting some looks. He had a couple last game. He's just got to keep working. He's working hard. He's skating and using his speed," Berube told reporters. "He got a chance to play with, and we'll see on Sunday, but with (William Nylander). He gets in a good area of the ice and gets open, there's a guy that can find him. He's got to put a couple in and get some confidence."

That said, only one point in 17 games is getting difficult to justify. If Robertson doesn't make the most of what could be one of his final opportunities to produce on offense in Toronto, he is on the verge of either being (a) relegated to the press box as a regular healthy scratch for the long term, (b) traded or (c) waived and sent to the Leafs’ AHL-affiliate Toronto Marlies.

While placing him on waivers would likely result in Toronto GM Brad Treliving losing an asset for nothing in return, they at least free the $875,000 in cap space Robertson carries, and leaving him to rot as a constant healthy scratch isn’t a good solution for him and the team.

From our perspective, Robertson must play in a top-nine position, but even the third-line left winger's spot for Toronto feels like a bridge too far for him right now. 

At 23 years old, Robertson no longer can say he’s just learning the ropes as an NHLer. He’s been given multiple chances – even if those chances haven’t always been at or near the top-six forward level – and he hasn’t been able to justify keeping himself on the ice. Robertson has played NHL games in each of the past five seasons, but in 104 career regular-season games, he’s produced only 18 goals and 35 points.

Robertson may thrive with a new team, but that’s the chance the Leafs have to be prepared to take when players get healthy. It’s a credit to Toronto’s organizational depth that it can turn to Minten and Grebenkin and get solid performances from them right away. Bringing on Alex Nylander is another nice boost to their depth. But that also means the chances someone like Robertson will get will be more limited.

As injured veterans return to action, Robertson is bound to be squeezed into no-man’s land. It would take a minor miracle for him to get on a scoring tear and put himself back in the Leafs’ good books.

So yes, the writing is definitely on the wall for Robertson as a Leaf. The NHL is a results-driven business, and Robertson’s results aren’t good enough to justify keeping him around any longer.

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