Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
The Toronto Maple Leafs hope the injury problems are over for Nick Robertson. Since the 2020-21 season, the 22-year-old Robertson has only managed to play in 31 games over three seasons.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Robertson in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft with the 53rd overall pick.
At the time, it seemed like a decent selection. Robertson registered 27 goals and 28 assists for 55 points in 54 games for the Peterborough Petes during his draft year.
During his 2019-20 season with the Petes in the OHL, Robertson began to look like a steal for the Leafs. He registered 55 goals and 31 assists for 86 points in 46 games. Seeing a newly drafted prospect go from 55 points to 86 points is something every team hopes to see. It makes a team feel good about the player they selected.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
Unfortunately, injuries would become a regular part of Robertson’s life once he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL level. During the 2020-21 season, Robertson sustained a knee injury in his season debut, which caused him to miss four weeks.
He also dealt with a lingering groin-abdominal issue and suffered a concussion. The following season, Robertson sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula that caused him to miss ten weeks.
Last season, Robertson suffered a shoulder injury which, at first, he was going to miss 6-8 weeks to rehab it, but he ended up needing surgery and was out six months.
Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press recently spoke with Robertson’s brother Jason, who plays for the Dallas Stars. When asked about his brother’s health, the older Robertson said that he’s in the best shape of his life and is ready to roll despite all the set-backs.
As much as Nick Robertson wants to play for the Leafs this season, I don’t think many people would be shocked if he started the season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.
He will be at training camp this weekend and will likely play in a few pre-season games, but his spot on the roster is not guaranteed. It would be good for him to get regular playing time in the AHL before being thrust back into the NHL after being out for so long.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be desperate to find a star player on a cheap contract ro replace the value that Michael Bunting was bringing the last two seasons, and Robertson is one of their only chances to do that. That means that even if he starts in the AHL, it won’t be long until he’s back in the NHL.