A new coach and a clean slate await Nick Robertson who reports to Maple Leafs training camp next week.
A new coach and a clean slate await Nick Robertson who reports to Maple Leafs training camp next week.
Nick Robertson ended his stalemate with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this week, signing a new one-year, $875,000 with the club.
Since late June, the speedy forward reportedly held firm on a request to be traded to another club. That didn't happen. And with NHL training camps set to open next week, Robertson — a restricted free agent with little leverage — relented on his demand.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving explained the situation with Robertson on Thursday.
'I think Nick has gone through some — you'd have to ask him — but he's gone through some stuff here, right? Like there's something that's been injury-related. And sometimes with young players, their game's still evolving," Treliving added.
Robertson had indeed had a lengthy injury history in his four seasons (five if you include his 2020 debut in the NHL playoffs) with the Leafs. And when Robertson had earned an opportunity, at times he saw himself on the wrong side of roster management.
The most recent example came this past season when Robertson was taken off the roster due to salary cap reasons. Rather than report to the Marlies, the Leafs had him skate with the return-to-play staff (injured players).
Of course, if Robertson was too good to be benched, things might have gone a bit differently, but he found himself on the outside looking in under previous head coach Sheldon Keefe. Robertson had a career-high 14 goals and 13 assists in 56 games with the Leafs last season. He played in the first six Leafs playoff games during the club's first-round series loss to the Boston Bruins.
But with a new coach in Craig Berube, Treliving emphasized the opportunity on the wing for the 23-year-old.
"I've got a good relationship with Nick. We talked throughout the summer and you just explained it. Here's the situation. Everybody's got it in their stripes," Treliving said. "But Nick's got it, I like Nick. He shoots it in the net. But you got to do other things, too. You've got to round out your game. You've got to be a complete player. But it's a fresh, clean slate with a new coach, a new opportunity. So I know the last couple of days he's been here, he's excited, and I'm looking forward to seeing him."
Related
Why Maple Leafs Prospect Topi Niemela Could Take the Next Step and Make His NHL Debut This Season
News from THN.com
NHL's Top Issues Facing Vancouver Canucks: The Next Step, Thatcher Demko and Elias Pettersson
Eight More NHL Goalies with New Creative Masks Ahead of the 2024-25 Season
'Universally Adored': Blue Jackets Players, GM Express Grief At Loss of Johnny Gaudreau, Brother