The Toronto Maple Leafs boast one of the most star-studded lineups in the entire NHL, and no matter which player it is, whether that be Auston Matthews, Timothy Liljegren, or even Bobby McMann, it is hard to hide from the spotlight playing in Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs get so much attention and coverage that it’s hard to imagine any player on this team being overlooked, but there is one player who could have a really strong season if the pieces fall in the right place.
That player is Nick Robertson.
Robertson has a tough road ahead of himself this season, but I think he can be a great player for the Leafs.
Here’s why.
The Most Overlooked Player on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Nick Robertson was (to a degree, he still is) once the Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect and projected to be a strong scoring forward at the NHL level.
His terrific OHL career followed up by his first NHL playoff goal at just age 18 gave Robertson tons of hype in and around the league. Unfortunately since then, however, things have not been so smooth.
Injuries and inconsistency caught up with Robertson, forcing him to only play 82 total games, which were split between the AHL and the NHL, from the 2020-21 season to the 2022-23 year, hindering the most important years of his development.
Robertson also faces a tough task in the Toronto Maple Leafs system, and that is cracking the top-6. Recent additions Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi along with the emergence of Matthew Knies, will easily make earning top-line minutes that much harder for Robertson.
However, if the Leafs follow through on making Nylander a centre, that gives them three scoring lines and it gives Nick Robertson a much better chance to make the team.
But I still believe that Robertson is a great player who could very very turn into a top-6 forward. for the Leafs, and this season could be the first step back on track.
Robertson recently said in an interview with The Athletic, “I know my name isn’t what it used to be. I don’t give a f—.”
This is the perfect attitude. He is aware of his position, and even though he isn’t the highly touted prospect he once was, he is not letting that discourage him.
On top of this, Robertson is playing well early in training camp and in pre-season action. And while the scoresheet may not show it, he is showing he belongs on the main NHL roster.
In short, with injuries now behind him, Nick Robertson is poised to make his mark in the NHL, and hardly anyone is talking about it.
Let’s see if he can pull it off.