Nick Robertson chose not to go into his reasons for requesting a trade away from the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this summer.
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“I’m not going to deep dive into that,” Robertson said after his first training camp practice on Thursday. “I signed in Toronto. I’m happy to be in Toronto. Being back here a week ago, it’s good to see everyone. I’m happy to be back.”
TSN’s Chris Johnston reported in June that Robertson had no intention of signing a contract and asked to be traded. Shortly after the request, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving stressed that there was an opportunity for Robertson to gain a bigger role with the Leafs this season.
Related: Report: Nick Robertson Informs Maple Leafs He Will Not Re-Sign and Wishes to be Traded
Still, things went into September before Robertson, who was a restricted free agent, signed a one-year deal worth $875,000.
“I signed in September and I was happy to sign. I was here at the right time. I wanted to be here,” Robertson stressed. “I had a great summer. It was the best summer of my career. Like I said, I’m not coming off an injury, thankfully. My conditioning feels good, my body feels good, and I’m looking forward to this camp.”
Related: Why Nick Robertson Broke His Stalemate With the Maple Leafs by Signing a One-Year Deal Ahead of Training Camp
A shoulder injury limited Robertson to 15 games with the Maple Leafs in 2022-23 and he had to spend the following summer rehabbing. Last season, Robertson was injury free. He scored a career-high 14 goals and had 13 assists in 56 games with Toronto, but he did bounce up and down as previous coach Sheldon Keefe moved him in and out of the lineup. Toronto was also going through roster issues, as the club was forced to take him off the roster for 10 days and assign him to the Toronto Marlies (although he ended up skating with the return-to-play staff instead).
New head coach Craig Berube made it a point get in touch with Robertson over the summer kept the conversations strictly on his role and opportunity with the Leafs.
Related: ‘I Understand It But I’m Not Going To Sit Here And Say That I’m Happy’: Maple Leafs’ Roster Shuffle Tests Nick Robertson’s Patience Upon His Return to the Team
“I didn’t focus on the contract stuff, has nothing to do with me,” Berube said. “I just said, ‘I’d love you to come to camp and hope you’re here. And, you know, with your ability and speed and youth, (you’d) be a good addition to our team.’ As he was last year, but just that stuff.”
It’s not clear if Berube’s chat made much of a difference. After all, as a restricted free agent, Robertson didn’t have much leverage and reports suggest the Leafs did shop him around but there wasn’t a trade to be made to Toronto’s liking.
Related: ‘(Craig) Berube Assured Nick Robertson That He’d Be Given A Chance’: Maple Leafs’ Negotiations with Restricted Free Agent to Reportedly Sort Itself Out Ahead of Training Camp
The upside potential for Robertson has always been there. A second-round pick (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, the California-born Robertson was fast-tracked to the NHL during Toronto’s 2020 NHL playoff COVID bubble.
But the Leafs have a lot of depth wingers at camp. From professional tryouts extended to Max Pacioretty and Stanley Cup-winner Steven Lorentz, how much opportunity is there for Robertson beyond what he had last season?
“I guess that’s up to Craig to answer,” Robertson said. “For me, I know I’ve got to come in and work hard and build on what I had last year. I had some confidence, obviously, with the season. I’ll just work with my linemates and get to know the new system and go from there.”
It was just one day on the ice, but Berube liked what he saw.
“:He’s a great kid, hard worker, got a great personality, energy,” Berube said. “Thought he had a great day today on the ice. You know, he’s got some elite speed and shot.”
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