Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Nick Robertson’s World Junior Tournament

USA Men’s hockey team has been eliminated from the World Junior Championships. We will breakdown the tournament for a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.

Things didn’t go as planned in the Czech Republic for team USA. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nick Robertson and his teammates will be heading home empty-handed after losing a quarterfinals matchup against Finland.

The Americans were kept out of the medal hunt despite being one of the favourites to win it all. Though they must be disappointed with the results, the squad had enough time at the World Junior Championships to showcase their respective talents. We will highlight what that meant for Robertson.

Robertson normally plays for the Peterborough Petes where he has been tearing up the OHL. He has 23 goals in just 22 games played. (Ontariohockeyleague.com).

That’s better than a goal per game.

He has also registered 12 assists to give him a total of 35 points.

Robertson’s Production at the WJHC

At the WJHC, Robertson was relied upon heavily. He finished the tournament with two goals and three assists, which gave him five points in five games played.

Robertson was good enough in USA’s exhibition games to earn his way onto America’s top line. He played with Shane Pinto and Oliver Wahlstrom. The line was humming every game, maintaining the coach’s trust to log big minutes.

Throughout the tournament, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect did what he needed to help his team. He always kept his feet moving, remaining constantly in motion. With the puck, Robertson was patient, letting the play develop instead of forcing the action. It was a maturity that few other18-year-olds are able to display at such a high stakes tournament.

Robertson also showcased his offense. He had some of USA’s best plays of the WJHC. The first was the rocket wrist shot set up by with toe drag.

He put the snipe past Canada’s goaltender, Nicolas Daws in the opening game of the tournament. The stunned goalie barely had time to move before the puck sailed in over his blocker.

Robertson’s next best moment came when he set up Pinto in the same game. He managed to impossibly slide a puck under the shin pad of a Canadian defender, Jacob Bernard-Docker. The pass went through the crease, right onto his centerman’s tape for an easy tap-in goal.

What’s Next for Robertson

Having an individually strong tournament will help Robertson’s stock rise. He will be returning to Peterborough to help the Petes make a deep playoff run. Currently, the team is comfortably in a postseason position at second in the Eastern Conference and second overall. They trail only the Ottawa 67’S by just three points.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have some decisions to make with their prospect. If they feel that he is NHL ready, he could potentially crack the lineup next season. He will certainly get an opportunity to prove himself at their NHL preseason training camp.

With this season’s trade deadline coming on Feb. 24, the Toronto Maple Leafs may see Robertson as a chip they’re willing to cash in to get someone to help the team now.

If other NHL clubs are inquiring about the winger, Kyle Dubas may ship him out. With his value being as high as it is, Robertson could be a valued part of a trade.

All the young player can do for now is continue to play his game. Good things await Robertson so long as he remains focused and works hard to keep improving. He is no doubt a prospect with a big future in the sport.