Few players have stood out at Toronto Maple Leafs’ training camp the way Nick Robertson has. While the preseason might not be a predictor of regular season success, when the name of the game is showing that you can do the job and put in the work, Robertson’s five-goal effort during the preseason checks all the boxes on the forward that the Maple Leafs wanted to see step up and grab a lineup spot out of training camp.
When asked about who surprised him most in training camp, Craig Berube was quick to sing the praises of Nick Robertson.
“I knew he was skilled, fast, could shoot, but what surprised me about him is his work ethic and his competitiveness have been excellent,” Berube said of Robertson on Saturday morning. “That’s what is going to make him a real good player in this league.”
Robertson was without a contract most of the summer, hoping for a trade, but the Maple Leafs were steadfast in their belief that this season would bring an opportunity for him to make the Maple Leafs out of camp and step into a secondary offensive role that became a critical need after the departure of Tyler Bertuzzi in free agency. Robertson ultimately signing a very team friendly, bet on yourself contract, which opened the door for this strong training camp showing.
Heading into the final night of the preseason, a game that Robertson will sit out, it seems that it has been unsurprisingly confirmed that Robertson will be on the Leafs opening night roster and the winger could not be more excited. “It means a lot. I was actually talking to my parents about it. They’re going to come up for it. It’s something that I now was thinking about coming to camp and I’m glad.”
Robertson had 14 goals and 27 points in 56 games last season and right now there is a good reason to be optimistic about seeing both those game and point totals increasing. “It’s my job to carry that into the season,” Nick acknowledged about his early success.
The Maple Leafs will open their season on October 9th in Montreal against the Canadiens. Their home opener will be on October 12th against the Penguins.
