Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Nick Robertson has a lot to prove after signing a one-year deal. Nick Robertson [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA5NTg0NTY0ODExNjA1NjU0/usatsi_24332801_168400847_lowres.jpg] Nick Robertson Nick Robertson was a major topic of conversation in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday for good and bad reasons. Robertson scored the game-winning goal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/nick-robertson-scores-game-winning-goal-and-other-observations-from-maple-leafs-pre-season-win-over-canadiens] for the Maple Leafs on a two-way effort, stripping the puck off Canadiens defenseman Adam Engstrom on an attempted breakout pass and fighting off pressure before wiring it between the legs of goaltender Jakub Dobes. Unfortunately for Robertson, his goal wasn’t the only reason he was a focal point of discussions throughout the game. Earlier in the contest, he attempted to assist his linemate William Nylander in backchecking through the neutral zone by giving him a push from behind with his stick. Nylander tumbled over, and as Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak was transitioning in the opposite direction, his leg made contact with Nylander’s head. It’s a play that’s been done before, but it played out in the worst possible way. Nylander, who has a migraine history, was visibly shaken up before being brought to the locker room for further evaluation. It was later announced that he was removed for precautionary reasons. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said he was reassured in his post-game availability that there was “nothing to worry about” regarding Nylander’s condition. Sportsnet analyst Nick Kypreos took issue with Robertson's attempt to give Nylander a boost, calling it "just dumb." "To me, that's just a bush move," Kypreos said on Thursday night's broadcast. "This is just so unnessecary. Nick stopped moving his feet, so he's given up on the play, so I'm going to push now one of the top (players)." Aside from this mishap, Robertson had a strong offensive performance, finishing with a 64.54 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) in 13:55 of ice time at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&game=10038]. He showed flashes of his remarkable work rate in all three zones, as well as his ability to process offense at a high level. The 23-year-old recorded 14 goals and 27 points in 57 games with the Maple Leafs last season while averaging just 11:23 of ice time per game, putting him at a 20-goal pace over an 82-game span in his limited deployment. Despite reportedly requesting a trade earlier this summer, Robertson agreed to a one-year, $875,000 deal to stay in Toronto, where he now finds himself competing for a larger role in the lineup with Max Pacioretty, Bobby McMann, and Matthew Knies on the left wing side [https://thehockeynews.com/lineups/atlantic/toronto-maple-leafs-projected-lineup-and-depth-chart]. If Robertson can continue to get himself involved in the Maple Leafs' offense throughout the team's remaining exhibition games, it will be difficult for Berube to justify taking him out of a middle-six role in the lineup. But perhaps he'll focus on boosting the score rather than his teammates from here on out. Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
