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

[inthe6ix]

Agreed. He was easily our best playmaker for years in Toronto and he regularly has more assists than goals. I always found it a bit funny when people labelled Kessel as one dimensional. Lazy, soft.....sure. But far from one dimensional.

the one dimensional label was more associated with his defensive play (or lack thereof), not that he was more a goal scorer than setup guy (which he isn't)

 

[The Podium]

Just realized both of his brothers are over 6', Nick really got the short end of the genetic stick

 

[93LEAFS]

Just realized both of his brothers are over 6', Nick really got the short end of the genetic stick

He was born 3 and a half months pre-mature. That can have an effect on your fully developed height.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

As mentioned previous, this kid was 4 days away from being in the 2020 draft. What he is doing is pretty impressive. He most definitely would be a top 10 pick in a redraft. Had he been born 4 days later he would be a top 10 pick in this draft if this was his draft year, and it is a much stronger draft than 2019.

Crazy that he is that young and despite the time missed leads all three junior leagues in goal scoring. He's played almost 40% less games than most, yet leads them all. Worth watching for sure.

 

[The Podium]

Crazy that he is that young and despite the time missed leads all three junior leagues in goal scoring. He's played almost 40% less games than most, yet leads them all. Worth watching for sure.

If the Leafs are going to be competitive with their cap structure they’re going to have to hit on picks later in the draft. They’ve been decent at this in recent years, especially out of Sweden. Hopefully we get a Gallagher/Hyman type out of Robertson, a gritty high motor 30 G scoring top 6 winger is exactly what the doctor ordered.

 

[Sonic Disturbance]

He was born 3 and a half months pre-mature. That can have an effect on your fully developed height.

So was Tyson Fury, and he ended up being 6'9 haha. But you're right, it usually does affect physical development.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

If the Leafs are going to be competitive with their cap structure they’re going to have to hit on picks later in the draft. They’ve been decent at this in recent years, especially out of Sweden. Hopefully we get a Gallagher/Hyman type out of Robertson, a gritty high motor 30 G scoring top 6 winger is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Yup. Drafting and FA are now the key to trying to keep the window open for a while.

Their Euro (specifically Swedish) scouting has been pretty gold. Often wondered if they shouldn't just heap all their late round picks on him and say "tell us who you want" as he has a pretty strong record of unearthing solid picks.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

With the cap situation in TO I really think this guy may make the big club this year even if he'll only be 19. How often do you see a player score a goal per game in the OHL and then return again the next season? Almost never. He's got NHL talent right now. With that goal scoring ability and a spot in Toronto's offense he could easily be a 20+ goal scorer next season which would go a long way in improving the team.

If he's a black hole on D and in terms of possession bc the nhl is do much better then 20 goals won't help.

He likely would need to develop more in order to be nhl ready in his all around game

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Pro scouts also tend to be wrong more times than correct

Kind of useless to point out considering how hard drafting is and how the eeli example was actually the scouts correctly having him ranked lower in the draft instead of in the top of the first

 

[slimbob8]

If he's a black hole on D and in terms of possession bc the nhl is do much better then 20 goals won't help.

He likely would need to develop more in order to be nhl ready in his all around game

There’s no reason to think he would be a black hole in terms of possession. For all we know he could develop into a possession monster. It’s kind of hard to gauge these things in the OHL because star players typically stand out and have the puck on their sticks the entire game.

 

[BAM]

If he's a black hole on D and in terms of possession bc the nhl is do much better then 20 goals won't help.

He likely would need to develop more in order to be nhl ready in his all around game

And your proof of him being a "blackhole on d and possession" are?

 

[Amadeus]

It's nice to hit on our 2nd rounder.

 

[justafan22]

So was Tyson Fury, and he ended up being 6'9 haha. But you're right, it usually does affect physical development.

It's kind of a miracle he's even alive. Hell of a story if he becomes a regular NHLer.

 

[TDK67]

If he's a black hole on D and in terms of possession bc the nhl is do much better then 20 goals won't help.

He likely would need to develop more in order to be nhl ready in his all around game

And your proof of him being a "blackhole on d and possession" are?

The below data is from his draft year. Safe to assume he hasn't taken a step back during this breakout season and is likely even better in each metric.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

There’s no reason to think he would be a black hole in terms of possession. For all we know he could develop into a possession monster. It’s kind of hard to gauge these things in the OHL because star players typically stand out and have the puck on their sticks the entire game.

He's a chler who has never played in the NHl. There's ALWAYS reason to wonder if a guy can go right from the C to the NHL and do all the things away from the puck that is needed.

And your proof of him being a "blackhole on d and possession" are?

Idk if he's more or less of a risk than a typical CHLer. I NEVER implied he was.

 

[slimbob8]

He's a chler who has never played in the NHl. There's ALWAYS reason to wonder if a guy can go right from the C to the NHL and do all the things away from the puck that is needed.

Of course, I never claimed he wouldn’t have issues translating his game to the OHL. My point is we don’t know how he’s going to do so we shouldn’t just assume his defensive/possession game will be too much of a liability to get any benefit from his offensive game. We see guys his age/size making the jump successfully all the time now.

 

[BAM]

He's a chler who has never played in the NHl. There's ALWAYS reason to wonder if a guy can go right from the C to the NHL and do all the things away from the puck that is needed.

Idk if he's more or less of a risk than a typical CHLer. I NEVER implied he was.

Then why make a statement that could literally be said about every prospect in the NHL?

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Then why make a statement that could literally be said about every prospect in the NHL?

Bc people were making statements as if they didnt know about this thing that could be said about any prospect

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Of course, I never claimed he wouldn’t have issues translating his game to the OHL. My point is we don’t know how he’s going to do so we shouldn’t just assume his defensive/possession game will be too much of a liability to get any benefit from his offensive game. We see guys his age/size making the jump successfully all the time now.

I am not assuming that. I just brought it up as a hypothetical bc people assumed the opposite.

 

[Mach85]

The guys at the Athletic say mid-teens in a re-draft, which I think is very reasonable. He still has flaws, but he's doing raises his stock considerably. I'm confident that's the sober man's position.

 

[Mach85]

He's a chler who has never played in the NHl. There's ALWAYS reason to wonder if a guy can go right from the C to the NHL and do all the things away from the puck that is needed.

Idk if he's more or less of a risk than a typical CHLer. I NEVER implied he was.

Blackhole is a very strong term with clear connotations. A guy with Robertson's motor and puck skills is much less of a risk than the typical CHLer in terms of possession ability.

 

[LeafChief]

Bc people were making statements as if they didnt know about this thing that could be said about any prospect

LOL what is this.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Blackhole is a very strong term with clear connotations. A guy with Robertson's motor and puck skills is much less of a risk than the typical CHLer in terms of possession ability.

Of course it has clear connatations that's why I used the term in a hypothetical. I have now clarified that it was just a hypothetical so I am not sure what people are having a problem with? Is it oversensitivity? Are people not allowed to question statements like "oh he'll jump from the chl to the nhl and contribute 20!"

I'm a nyr fan. I watched my dumb fanbase hype up every prospect bc of scoring. I'm used to seeing exactly what Toronto fans are doing in this thread...slotting a guy in right away and assuming he can give 20 goals, 50 points, 70 points, be on the top line from day one, etc.

That's just not how reality works for the vast majority of prospects no matter what intangible motors we think they have.

So I questioned this notion he'll definitely slot right in from the chl. That's pretty reasonable to question.

Evgeny grachev, Christian Thomas, Michael st Croix, etc, etc. These were Chlers who have huge seasons, have great speed or shots, dominate the competition and then what?. They all failed miserably to crack the nhl. It happens. I'm not even saying this kid will fail to even crack the bigs. I'm just saying it's a bit much to pencil him in for 20 goals as soon as he leaves the chl.

Lias Andersson was "the most nhl ready prospect, a great leader, complete game" .kidcan barely skate, sucks in every way.

Kravtsov was climbing into the top ten prospects discussion. He comes here, dangles like a moron, can't even gain the zone, can't score and goes to the ahl where he does the same. It happens.

I can't believe the statement "it's hard to make the jump from chl to nhl. This is bc guys don't have the complete game necessary so they could maybe score but have enormous issues elsewhere" is so controversial

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

LOL what is this.

Those are words. They were in response to almost the exact same words being in the previous post.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Of course it has clear connatations that's why I used the term in a hypothetical. I have now clarified that it was just a hypothetical so I am not sure what people are having a problem with? Is it oversensitivity? Are people not allowed to question statements like "oh he'll jump from the chl to the nhl and contribute 20!"

I'm a nyr fan. I watched my dumb fanbase hype up every prospect bc of scoring. I'm used to seeing exactly what Toronto fans are doing in this thread...slotting a guy in right away and assuming he can give 20 goals, 50 points, 70 points, be on the top line from day one, etc.

That's just not how reality works for the vast majority of prospects no matter what intangible motors we think they have.

So I questioned this notion he'll definitely slot right in from the chl. That's pretty reasonable to question.

I don't know friend, looks like back pedalling to me. If I was you, I'd just take the L and call it a day.