F Nicholas Robertson - Peterborough Petes, OHL (2019, 53rd, TOR)

[The Winter Soldier]

Bracco was ranked as high as 22 by scouting services and as low as 54. People were really torn on him.

But Bracco had bigger issues in his game. He was a perimeter player. He could skate circles on his edges on the perimeter but he would get stuck out there. He didn't go to the dirty areas and that's when being small works against you a bit more because he played like he was small. Those aren't issues for Robertson. He gets to the net, he battles hard for the puck on both sides of it. He creates his own shots. Robertson can be projected up or down the lineup. Bracco was total boom or bust. He was never going to be a 3rd/4th line grinder.

This is one area where Robertson is good at. He is willing to go into dirty areas whereas Bracco will not. But that was not what I posted on. My comparison was on skating solely, and from a production point as late 2nd rounders as players and why it is not necesarily a wise point to say a player drafted #53 has moved into top #15 on 1/2 of a D+1 year.

 

[Apex Predator]

I like reading the prospect boards since I’m not following junior as closely as others but please correct me I always thought the one thing Bracco had was his skating?

 

[justafan22]

Good breakdown of the differences between them. I'm a fan of Bracco, but even as a junior player he was frustrating to watch sometimes, not much of a "motor" and not much of anything away from the puck. Never feel that frustration with Robertson.

Bracco doesn't have a floor. He'll either be a 50 point NHL player or in europe in 3 years.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I like reading the prospect boards since I’m not following junior as closely as others but please correct me I always thought the one thing Bracco had was his skating?

his straight-ahead speed is just "fine", he has a unique "10-2" skating styles and great edgework. It's a unique style that gives him advantages, but some question whether that style can be successful at the NHL level.

 

[TopC0rner]

I had Roberston around 20th last year. I liked his hockey sense, his stickwork, his relentless motor and how he played in the offensive zone. I thought he needed to get stronger. I had his shot and skating as average. I had him just behind Connor McMichael, ahead of Ryan Suzuki, Brayden Tracey, Samuel Poulin, Jakob Pelletier, Nolan Foote, Simon Holmstrom, John Beecher.

I think with his season and his play at the WJC, he would go 15-25 in a redraft.

 

[Minty Cowboy]

Another goal and an assist for Robby

 

[Leon Draisaitl]

This is one area where Robertson is good at. He is willing to go into dirty areas whereas Bracco will not. But that was not what I posted on. My comparison was on skating solely, and from a production point as late 2nd rounders as players and why it is not necesarily a wise point to say a player drafted #53 has moved into top #15 on 1/2 of a D+1 year.

It wouldn't be a redraft if he was a week younger. He'd be first-time eligible for 2020 and that's where the conversation started as him being a mid 1st.

 

[slimbob8]

This is one area where Robertson is good at. He is willing to go into dirty areas whereas Bracco will not. But that was not what I posted on. My comparison was on skating solely, and from a production point as late 2nd rounders as players and why it is not necesarily a wise point to say a player drafted #53 has moved into top #15 on 1/2 of a D+1 year.

Robertson has most certainly moved into that discussion based on what he's done since then. He's currently scoring goals at a rate that hasn't been hit in over 20 years.

Most Goals per Game in One Season by OHL Players

AND he plays a high energy gritty style of game which only makes him a more appealing prospect. Of course he's skyrocketed up those rankings and you won't find a single hockey analyst that worst case thinks he'd be a 1st round pick in hindsight. Button has him ranked 17th out of ALL affiliated prospects, not just 2019 draft players so I don't think it's a stretch at all to think he'd go top 15.

https://www.tsn.ca/russian-players-...ranking-of-nhl-affiliated-prospects-1.1424251

 

[slimbob8]

Bracco doesn't have a floor. He'll either be a 50 point NHL player or in europe in 3 years.

Agreed. I've lost all hope for the guy after watching what seems like every single Marlies forward get called up to the big club ahead of him despite the fact he was the team's leading scorer. If that's not a red flag about his lack of an all around game then I don't know what is. He may become an nhler somewhere, but with the Leafs winger depth I don't think it will be with them.

 

[UnimatrixZero]

from what I have seen I'd take him 10-15th in next years draft, I'm no expert and haven't seen what the rest can do lol, but man that shot alone is gold, that one timer reminds me of the ones V. Olofsson was firing, some of his set ups were also top notch tho he' seems to be a shoot first type.

 

[Kelly]

I like reading the prospect boards since I’m not following junior as closely as others but please correct me I always thought the one thing Bracco had was his skating?

Bracco had/has terrific edges but his acceleration and top end speed were issues in junior iirc.

Nevertheless, you couldn't find a more awful comparison with Bracco and Robertson if you tried.

 

[7even]

lol I watched Bracco play in most of his OHL career and I've seen a lot of Robertson. They are very different players. You talk about people "reading hockey db" but you don't actually seem to have watched many of the players you talk about, always deferring to some other (often unidentified) "source".

Are you actually questioning the premier prospect guru this side of the Atlantic?? The legend who had the prescience, and the gumption, to call Val Nichushkin as miles better than Sasha Barkov when all the other sheep on this site disagreed? Nothing personnel kid, but you don't stand a chance here.

 

[newfy]

I had Roberston around 20th last year. I liked his hockey sense, his stickwork, his relentless motor and how he played in the offensive zone. I thought he needed to get stronger. I had his shot and skating as average. I had him just behind Connor McMichael, ahead of Ryan Suzuki, Brayden Tracey, Samuel Poulin, Jakob Pelletier, Nolan Foote, Simon Holmstrom, John Beecher.

I think with his season and his play at the WJC, he would go 15-25 in a redraft.

I think youre right on 15-25. His shot is unreal but I think the questions come mostly from his skating and style of play. Its hard to be 5'9 and an average skater and make an impact in the NHL. Its also hard to be 5'9 and have a long, effective career with a non-stop motor like he does. I'm not going to say its a weakness obviously but I think a lot of people probably question how well that style of play will translate to the NHL for a guy his size. It obviously works for Gallagher but theres not a long list of small guys like that that are effective with that skating and style of play.

From what I've seen of his shot though he looks like he could at least be a lower part of the line up guy who gets some points on the PP if the skating never fully comes around.

 

[93LEAFS]

Are you actually questioning the premier prospect guru this side of the Atlantic?? The legend who had the prescience, and the gumption, to call Val Nichushkin as miles better than Sasha Barkov when all the other sheep on this site disagreed? Nothing personnel kid, but you don't stand a chance here.

I still can't believe we passed on the next Mario Lemieux according to some....

 

[TheDoldrums]

36 goals in 33 games...this is nuts

 

[Knies iT]

I think youre right on 15-25. His shot is unreal but I think the questions come mostly from his skating and style of play. Its hard to be 5'9 and an average skater and make an impact in the NHL. Its also hard to be 5'9 and have a long, effective career with a non-stop motor like he does. I'm not going to say its a weakness obviously but I think a lot of people probably question how well that style of play will translate to the NHL for a guy his size. It obviously works for Gallagher but theres not a long list of small guys like that that are effective with that skating and style of play.

From what I've seen of his shot though he looks like he could at least be a lower part of the line up guy who gets some points on the PP if the skating never fully comes around.

Having a high work ethic and non-stop motor does not shorten your career. Reckless physicality? Sure, that will lead to injury concerns and physical breakdown.

Robertson really is not a crash and bang type, he's just a smart puck hound with amazing stick work and body positioning. He definitely goes to the dirty areas but you rarely see him take damage.

Certainly didn't hurt Danny Briere.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Another 2 goals and 3 points tonight. Putting up one of the best goalscoring seasons in recent OHL history. Picked 53rd in the last draft and won't be turning 19 for another 7 months. This guy might be seen as one of the game's best prospects by the time the season ends.

 

[Menzinger]

Looks so far like the leafs could have a sleeper hit on their hands.

Haven't had one from deeper in the draft in a while

 

[Knies iT]

Another 2 goals and 3 points tonight. Putting up one of the best goalscoring seasons in recent OHL history. Picked 53rd in the last draft and won't be turning 19 for another 7 months. This guy might be seen as one of the game's best prospects by the time the season ends.

38 goals in 34 games. His 11 game goal streak is the longest in the league.

 

[slimbob8]

Holy crap, is this guy ever going to go a game without scoring? I know patience should be used with him given how young and small he is, but he might give the Leafs no choice next season but to give him a look. That goal scoring ability is clearly too good for the OHL. I don't think the Hawks have any second thoughts about rushing Debrincat up who had similar numbers.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Holy crap, is this guy ever going to go a game without scoring? I know patience should be used with him given how young and small he is, but he might give the Leafs no choice next season but to give him a look. That goal scoring ability is clearly too good for the OHL. I don't think the Hawks have any second thoughts about rushing Debrincat up who had similar numbers.

Its looking like the argument for keeping him down might be more to get the ELC to slide a year than having more to do in junior

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

the shot volume is insane too. 10 shots+ per game on a semi regular basis.

 

[7even]

Holy crap, is this guy ever going to go a game without scoring? I know patience should be used with him given how young and small he is, but he might give the Leafs no choice next season but to give him a look. That goal scoring ability is clearly too good for the OHL. I don't think the Hawks have any second thoughts about rushing Debrincat up who had similar numbers.

You cross that bridge when you get to it. You can't make any kind of educated argument about whether he should be up or down until you see him in camp next year, regardless of what his numbers are. Every prospect is an individual.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Let's pump the brakes on too good for junior. He's 6th in PPG amongst '01 born players in the OHL. Great season, but he's a 5'9 160 lbs 18 year old and arguably not the best player on the Petes. Let him develop, no need to rush him.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Let's pump the brakes on too good for junior. He's 6th in PPG amongst '01 born players in the OHL. Great season, but he's a 5'9 160 lbs 18 year old and arguably not the best player on the Petes. Let him develop, no need to rush him.

his size makes what he’s doing more impressive, not less.