If Nick Robertson can produce for the Toronto Maple Leafs this year, the 2021-22 season could be a special one.
With the 53rd overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected left-winger Nick Robertson, from the Peterborough Petes. Two years later, it’s crazy to think that so many other team’s passed over him that year.
When you look at Robertson’s stature, off the ice, it’s easy to doubt his abilities. However, when he steps on the ice, he looks much bigger than his 5-foot-9, 165 pound frame would suggest. In fact, every person who ever doubted him should eat their words after he scored 55 goals in 46 games during his last year of junior hockey.
Size is still important in today’s game, but it’s not as necessary as it used to be. For example, Patrick Kane, who’s only 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, has been the NHL’s most consistent point-producer for the past decade. Despite his size, Kane has won a Hart Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and three Stanley Cups.
I’m not saying Leafs fans should expect Robertson to become the next Kane, but they shouldn’t despair his ability because of his size.
Toronto Maple Leafs Need Robertson to Transform into Cole Caufield
38 picks before Nick Robertson got drafted, the Montreal Canadiens also selected a small goal-scorer name Cole Caufield.
Unlike Robertson, who did this a year after getting drafted, Caufield was already a goal-per-game scorer, which is a main reason why he was selected so highly. However, Robertson and Caufield have a lot more in common than you’d think.
Both players were members of Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championships and are both extremely talented goal-scorers, despite their size. Caufield makes Robertson look like a giant, as he’s only 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds.
Although they were both drafted in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Caufield was born in January, compared to Robertson who was born in September, which is a huge advantage at that age. In fact, if Robertson were born five days later, he would have had to wait until the 2020 NHL Entry Draft to be selected, so although they’re the same age, you could argue that he’s behind in development.
Robertson still has three years remaining on his Entry Level Contract that pays him $796,667 annually, so within that timeframe, he needs to be as effective as Caufield has been in Montreal.
In 30 games, Caufield has excited Canadiens fans and was a huge spark during their run to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. His point-totals haven’t been insane, but he’s contributed eight goals and 17 points in those games (stats: hockeydb.com), which is a huge boost from a player making essentially the league-minimum.
Since the Toronto Maple Leafs have a hole to fill on the left-side this year, Robertson should be given an opportunity to play beside a combination of either Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner or John Tavares-William Nylander, similarly to how Caufield was given that opportunity in Montreal’s top-six.
Toronto is a cap-strapped team, so if they’re able to get Robertson to produce like a $5M player, while only making league minimum, the Leafs will have a huge advantage and their depth will be unmatched.