TSN: Chris Johnston on the first Up present on TSN 590 radio on the rumors surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs, their depth at left wing and Nick Robertson.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Aaron Korolnek: “I wished to ask you to start these rumors across the Toronto Maple Leafs who’re contemplating choices at left wing. And we all know it’s (Matthew) Knies, and (Bobby) McMann, and perhaps some mixture of (Max) Domi and (Pontus) Holmberg, Connor Dewar, perhaps Easton Cowan can think about there.
What have you ever heard with respect to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their pursuit of left wing depth?
Johnston: “Effectively I feel, you understand, clearly, at this stage of the summer season, you understand, the Leafs are nonetheless working via what occurs with Nick Robertson, who you didn’t point out. However, however he, you understand, there’s a fairly clear path for him to be a part of the combo at left wing. To doubtlessly have a job, you understand, that exceeds what he’s had prior to now.
However, you understand, at this stage, Nick Robertson doesn’t appear inclined to check in Toronto, and, you understand, is sticking to the concept he’d prefer to play some place else. And so I feel they must type of type that out first or as a part of this.
So, you understand, it’s not as if there are, you understand, 5 – 6 high-quality gamers on the market that, that might play that place, that may be signed. However I feel that, you understand, clearly the group acknowledges it’s an space that, you understand, they’re going to must, you understand, handle, particularly if Robertson isn’t a part of the plans.
However, you understand, we’ve had a number of gamers prior to now, however not all the time publicly, you understand, assume that their their time’s up with a company, you understand, have these type of requests, and it doesn’t all the time result in a parting of the methods.
And so I feel that’s most likely the very first thing that must be sorted out as a part of determining, you understand, what that left aspect goes to appear to be, you understand, come coaching camp within the begin of the yr.
Carlo Colaiacovo: “So sorry, CJ, are you able to elaborate on that just a little bit. So Nick Robertson isn’t traded and he’s not signed, do you see a situation the place he doesn’t report back to camp?
I imply, only in the near past, we noticed (Yaroslav) Askerov, the goalie in Nashville demand a commerce, after which we see Barry Trotz come out and say, ‘No, we don’t care what he’s going to say, he’s going to report the camp,’ after which a pair days later, he’s traded.
How do you really anticipate this Robertson scenario to play out? Does he maintain out or does he get traded?
Johnston: “You understand, it’s, it’s a troublesome one to say. I imply, actually, it actually comes all the way down to the participant in the end. Does the participant have the specified or the, the flexibility to stay to a commerce request? Or, you understand, because it will get nearer to camp, and if the Leafs resolve to not commerce them, or they’ll’t discover one, a transfer that is smart. You understand, Is he actually going to take a seat out?
I don’t understand how Nick and you understand, will reply on this scenario. And I feel it’s virtually laborious to know till you get to the defining moments. However let’s, let’s (dig out?) just a little bit. I imply, Nick Robertson’s 22 years outdated. The Leafs have modified head coaches.
You understand, a part of, I feel it’s the satisfaction or, you understand what he’s involved about his position over the past couple of years, that he’s been yo-yo’ed, just a little bit. Clearly, an enormous a part of that’s that he’s been injured, a pair completely different vital accidents in latest seasons.
However, you understand, this yr he would want waivers. So it’s not as if he’s going to be despatched to the minors I wouldn’t assume. He’s obtained an opportunity to, you understand, play for a brand new coach and, and the Leafs don’t have as many gamers forward of him on the depth chart as they’ve had.
So, you understand, I feel there’s, there’s positively a path to and an actual one, not, not simply, you understand, lip service, for him to have an even bigger position. And so in the end, we obtained to see what they resolve.
However you understand, he had a fairly good yr final yr, 14 objectives, 13 of them at even energy, for somebody who performed, you understand, 9 or 10 minutes an evening and didn’t play all 82 video games, I feel there’s some promise there for him.
However that being mentioned, you understand, I don’t know if there’s quite a lot of groups banging down the door to, to pay him some exorbitant sum of cash. So, you understand actually, I feel it makes probably the most sense for the Leafs to maintain him. However you understand, at a sure level, clearly, that might require Nick to signal a contract and be keen to come back to camp. S
o you understand, it’s going to be a narrative that most likely will achieve in significance right here as we get to mid-September and see actually, you understand, is he going to stay to his weapons, or, in the end, is he going to resolve it’s finest for him to proceed his profession in Toronto and simply see how issues go? And perhaps that, perhaps they make an settlement, a aspect settlement, okay, signal this deal one yr, deal perhaps. And if it’s not working at a sure level, we’ll transfer you.
However you understand, that is, and I don’t know the way it’s going to play out is absolutely what I’m saying, however I do assume, you understand, it makes a of sense from his finish and the Leafs finish to in the end find yourself collectively. I simply, you understand, I don’t know if that’s going to occur or not.”
