TSN: Chris Johnston on Nick Robertson’s standing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, that there’s a chance for him, however will he re-sign with the staff?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Jamie McLennan: “I wish to return to Nick Robertson. The place do you suppose these talks are, or the place do you suppose they’ll find yourself? In a scenario the place, I don’t, do you imagine, he’s a younger participant, 22, I believe he had what, 13, 14 objectives final yr?
Jeff O’Neill: “Effectively, he received unhappy a bunch of instances, and each time he got here again he scored.”
McLennan: “I do know, however what like, okay, so, what’s he? Is he, I don’t know what he’s as a participant but. Is he a 9, a top-nine? Is he a top-six? Does he imagine? The place do you suppose he matches?
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After which, clearly, with each greenback counting, with them being tight in opposition to the cap, like, not like they’ll supply him an enormous increase right here. So, , the place do you suppose this all ends? Or, , the place do you suppose that he can match? As a result of if they’re bringing different guys, they, there may be guys that push him out of the lineup.
Johnston: “For certain. And what’s distinctive right here, this doesn’t appear to be, , associated to cash. It’s not as if there’s a breakdown in negotiations.
I imply, this commerce request was made, , after he acquired his, , , after they retained his rights as an RFA and a (inaudible), and so, , it’s not about cash. I believe it’s been concerning the alternative.
And, , for these of us that don’t have any feelings concerned on this, simply simply watching from the surface, , I believe you sit right here on the impartial celebration and say, Okay, that is the primary yr you’re not going to require waivers. Sorry, you’ll require waivers to go to Marlies, so that you’re doubtless not going to go on waivers. You’re gonna be within the NHL.
Should you had a problem together with your taking part in time, perhaps that was related to your head coach. Effectively the Leafs modified head coaches and Craig Berube is in cost now.
And so they’re simply not as deep, fairly frankly, on paper, as they’ve been in years passed by. I imply, I believe it’s fairly clear to see, Matthew Knies I believe will likely be a top-six possibility for them on left wing. Nobody else you’ll be able to say for certain. I imply, perhaps Bobby McMann, coming off an damage, can fill that function. Perhaps it’s a Robertson. Perhaps it’s somebody who isn’t but signed, or a participant that finally ends up coming in on tryout.
However level is, there’s fairly clearly a chance there. And at the very least so far, Nick Robertson has been unwilling to wish to proceed and signal on with the Leafs.
And so, the place does it find yourself? I imply, I believe it relies upon how strongly he believes in his convictions. Does he, is he prepared to sit down out, , days, weeks, months, to show his level, to attempt to drive organizations hand.
I imply, finally, that is completely different, even than many, a few years in the past, the place the (William) Nylander – Leafs arise, which, , standoff, which was about cash. Nylander was a fairly confirmed piece at that time. Clearly had room to develop, however was an essential member of the staff.
I imply, I believe nobody can say with certainty what Nick Robertson is for the Leafs. I imply, fairly encouraging to see the variety of objectives he scored final yr, 14 of them, 13 and even energy. However, , can he do it over a time period? May he deal with extra minutes? Can he be in additional of a prime-time function?
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I imply, I believe he’s received to nonetheless present it. He’s received to show it. And the one method to try this is, , finally, by taking part in someplace. And so , he’s going to have nowhere to play, at the very least in North America, if he continues to stay, , agency to his his need to be traded and the leafs don’t commerce him as a result of they management his rights so long as he’s a restrictive free agent.
