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Toronto Maple Leafs: When Will Nick Robertson Be NHL Ready?

By Nick Barden

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Nicholas Robertson, 53rd overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is greeted by head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maples at the team draft table during Rounds 2-7 of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Nicholas Robertson, 53rd overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is greeted by head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maples at the team draft table during Rounds 2-7 of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Today, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Nick Robertson to a three-year entry level contract.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs signing Robertson, is there a possibility to see him up with the NHL club in the near future?

Robertson was drafted 53rd overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. Last season, he put up 55 points in 54 games with the Peterborough Petes. This coming season, Robertson will definitely get more points and see more ice-time.

The second-round pick comes in at five-foot seven, but even though he’s small, he’s an incredible player. His future with the Maple Leafs will depend on how he uses his size in both the OHL, and the AHL, where he will likely be next season.

His ceiling is likely playing in a top-six role within the NHL. That could potentially be with the Leafs in the next three-to-four years, if they don’t sign Kasperi Kapanen, or Andreas Johnsson. But again, Robertson has to be ready by then.

The timeline.

This could be Robertson’s last season in the OHL, and if he’s ready next year, he will likely play for the Toronto Marlies. In what possibly could be his final year in the OHL, Robertson is ready to take the league by storm, and start dominating.

The Leafs are lucky to have him because he could’ve easily been gone in the first-round of the draft, but the Leafs got a major steal.

Even though he’s a small forward, his skating is very well, he’s very shifty and he’s very smart with the puck. Robertson works very hard on the forecheck, and he also has a good shot.

If the Petes season ends early and they don’t make the playoffs, we could possibly see Robertson up with the Marlies, helping push them to another Calder Cup, if they make the playoffs.

The hardest part for Robertson is going to be how he translates to a game with taller, and heavier players. The average height in the NHL is six-foot-one and the average weight is over 200 pounds.

But, if Mitch Marner, who weighs 170 pounds can play in the NHL, I’m sure Robertson will be fine in the future, when he’s ready to be there full-time.

Next. What do the Toronto Maple Leafs Have in Nick Robertson?. dark

For now, look for Robertson to be a key player on the Petes roster, and if he can, he could be a key part to the Marlies Calder Cup run, if they make the playoffs this year. Don’t forget the name because you will hear a lot more about him, just wait.

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