Robertson was called up to the Maple Leafs after being sent down to help the team open up some salary cap space.
Robertson was called up to the Maple Leafs after being sent down to help the team open up some salary cap space.
Nick Robertson is back with the Toronto Maple Leafs after the 22-year-old forward was sent down to the Toronto Marlies for some salary cap maneuvering.
Although he understood the explanation from team management for why he was taken off the roster, he wasn't thrilled about.
"I understand it but I’m not going to sit here and say that I’m happy," Robertson said following practice at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. "I want to play, but I understand my contract situation. Obviously, if it wasn’t the way it was maybe it would be a different situation but it is what it is.
Robertson is no stranger to falling victim to his contract status in the past. Before the beginning of the 2022-23 NHL season, The Californian performed well out of training camp, only to begin that season with the Toronto Marlies due to the club's salary cap constraints. Four games into the season, defenseman Jake Muzzin was placed on long-term injured reserve with a neck injury and Robertson was back with the Leafs.
This time around, the Leafs were in a tricky spot. Having a regular role in the lineup on the team's third line, the club had to make some cap space to accommodate Calle Jarnkrok's return from a broken knuckle. The only options for the Leafs were to send rookie forward Matthew Knies down or place someone on waivers. Pontus Holmberg, who previously was eligible to be sent down had just crossed the 70-game NHL threshold for his age where waiver exemptions are lifted.
"Every year I’m learning something new with the cap situation. I think I’m getting more knowledge to become an assistant GM one day," Robertson joked. "When you think you’re in the clear and then all of a sudden you didn’t know — I have no idea. There’s a bunch of stuff. Obviously, you have to fit in the cap. That’s the main thing. But the roster spot. I’m more knowledgeable on it now than I was before."
The Maple Leaf officially called up Robertson on Monday and only had approximately $344k of cap space, according to PuckPedia.com, meaning they had to make a corresponding roster move to make his space available by 5 p.m. There is an unconfirmed report from CapFriendly.com that the club placed veteran defenseman Mark Giordano on long-term injured reserve to make room for Robertson's entry. Giordano sustained a head injury against the Arizona Coyotes on Feb 29 and would have to miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days. If that is indeed the case, Giordano would not available to the club until Mar. 26 against the New Jersey Devils.
The 40-year-old defenseman was a full participant at practice on Monday.
At the time of speaking to The Hockey News on Monday afternoon, Robertson wasn't told if his stay with the Leafs was beyond Monday.
"I don’t know what the day is going to look like day-to-day if it’s skate by myself or with the team," Robertson said. "I'm just keeping my phone on standby and keep doing what I’m doing and make manageable with the reps I get and just be happy to be with the boys,"
Robertson had spent the last 10 days skating with goaltender Matt Murray and the team's return-to-play staff including assistant GM Dr. Hailey Wickenheiser and player development coach Patrick O'Sullivan.
"It’s nice to see him back and have him feel like he’s still part of the group and what we’re doing here," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Robertson on Monday.
The Maple Leafs held practice at Scotiabank Arena on Monday for the first time this season instead of their usual facility in Etobicoke as the team took their annual team photo. Robertson was concerned if he was going to be included as part of it until his call-up on Monday.
Robertson was happy with the fact that he remained a Leaf as the trade deadline came and went nothing he didn't want a "change of scenery". But it's clear he's run out of patience for being pulled out of the lineup due to cap and roster-related reasons.
"I’ve been in plenty of situations before where waivers have kind of screwed me. I’m numb to it," Robertson said. " I’ve had to be in situations where I’ve had to find my way back and stuff. But like I said, I’m not happy about it. I want to be in the lineup. It is what it is. I just manage it and wait for my name to be called
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