'The Show Goes On': Nick Robertson Ready For Another Chance to Crack Maple Leafs Lineup Following Shoulder Injury

Nick Robertson is ready for another crack at a healthy season. Again.

The 22-year-old has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his professional career, including a knee injury, a broken leg, and his latest setback: a shoulder injury and surgery.

With that being said, this isn't uncharted territory for Robertson. He's begun Maple Leafs camp a number of times hungry for a roster spot, and that hasn't changed this time around.

"I'm just confident in myself right now," he said following Day 1 of Toronto's training camp. “For me, I'm just happy with where my body's at and everything. There's still, obviously, getting back into practice with the team and the boys, it's been like 10 months, so you got to get the rust off and get your confidence back. 

"I'm not worried about that, I'm sure I'll get that through a few days and it was good to get a practice in and get the nerves out today. So, I'm happy with where everything's at with my body and (I) look forward to getting confident and playing my game again."

This is the first time we've seen the 22-year-old skate with the Maple Leafs since he suffered the shoulder injury over nine months ago.

Robertson did say on Thursday that he was fortunate to remain at home in California with his family following the surgery. However, he did, too, miss what was happening in Toronto with his team.

The 22-year-old recalled "just being away from it," as the hardest part of the entire process.

"I went home. Fortunately, it was (with) my family in California for the surgery. I had a great surgery and then I think just being away from the guys, and even when I was here, being with the team and not being a part of the team kind of deal. 

"But now I'm back into it, being with the guys and (the season) kicked off with a golf tournament, too, which was fun to be with everyone. So, I think that was the most thing I missed, was just being around the guys."

It can be incredibly tough when you feel like you've finally found your footing at the NHL level to then lose that chance due to injuries. The hardest battles, though, can make a person even stronger in the long run.

From Robertson's standpoint, he feels more mature as he's gone through this process.

"I think I've matured mentally and very composed," the 22-year-old said, "and knowing my situation, just not being too high or too low. 

"It's definitely a mental grind. Playing in the bubble as an 18-year-old, I wouldn't think this path would be the way it is, but the show goes on. This is the path that I've been given and I just got to leave it up to myself to do what I can do and play well and have a great training camp."

"Nick, to me, is a guy I'm really interested in seeing," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said during Wednesday's media day.

"He's a driven kid. There's people that you got to sort of maybe give a boot in the rear and then there's some that you got to hold back. He's a guy that's pedal down all the time which I love. The one thing that's sort of impeded Nick is injuries, right? Which you can't control.

"So, what's his chances (of making the team)? Everybody's got a chance. We're going to just watch. We've got three weeks or so, we've got a bunch of preseason games, I'm looking forward to seeing him."

One of the key training elements that helped Robertson prepare for this season was boxing. He said he did it a few times over the summer to help get the strength back in his shoulder.

"I boxed a couple times. I just did that for my shoulder to kind of get the strength back in and the fatigue factor and get back in shape because I was pretty out of shape and not where I wanted to be. Obviously, I was away from the game for a long time so it helped me get in shape."

This is arguably the biggest training camp of Robertson's still young career. It's yet another chance for him to prove to the Maple Leafs that he's ready to take the next step. That he's ready for a full-time spot in the NHL lineup.

To achieve that goal, the 22-year-old says he just needs to do what he knows he can do.

"Just do my job. Just do what I know what Nick Robertson can do, which is use my shot, use my speed, and add things that I think I could've had. I had things that I've looked in video to add, so that's what I'm going to do."

And Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe's message?

"Just go out and make it obvious that you belong."

Related

Maple Leafs Goaltender Ilya Samsonov Reveals Story Behind Brand New Goalie Mask

Tyler Bertuzzi Takes Reps With Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner as Maple Leafs Lines Take Shape

10 Things We Learned From Maple Leafs Media Day as Training Camp Opens

News from THN.com

Why There's No Cookie-Cutter Way of Naming an NHL Captain

Five NHL Players to Bring Back in a Wrestling-Style Return

The Hockey News Podcast: Babcock, NHL Prospect Showcases and Mailbag