Is There A Spot On This Team For Robertson?

Voodoo Child

Registered User
Jun 16, 2009
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Playing a more responsible game but looking at him he's not big, strong or fast enough to play like he wants, and he's on a deep team that has 5-6 other forwards who get 50+ points and a few more who can get 30+ and get 80% of the PP time.

If he had 3-1-4 by now he'd have some room, you turn back time and you trade him after the preseason.
 
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budzz

History is just that.
Jan 26, 2015
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Pitts and Dubas are swimming in pain and in need of a serious youth injection. Dubas would LUB some robertson to get acciari off the second line lol. Grab some draft picks (or even a bunting retained?) and Dubas would bite.
 

ihadtochangethename

Registered User
Sep 1, 2012
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USA
Robertson would best be suited on the top line instead of Knies just not sure his play has warranted it in the coaches eyes but that’s maximizing his talent Knies isn’t maximizing his on the top line with them he’d probably be better on the second line though I wouldn’t touch it yet and the third line that he would make a line cause I’d argue he’s playing the best of the trio on the top line
Knies is making pennies on the dollar and contributing as though he gets paid 11 million a year. The top players have been lack luster and streaky at best so far this season, and Knies has been the only other constant to Stolarz. I hope he takes them to the cleaners. Everyone else did.
 
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LeafEgo

Registered User
Oct 8, 2021
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There's a spot for him at the moment and hope for the best but he's probably punted in some way as the year progresses.

I like seeing him on the ice but he looks like an AHLer trying pretty hard to figure it out.

My guess is he doesn't, but if he ends up potting goals on a McMann-Domi-Robo energy line that would be a blessing. Go Robo Go!
 
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Sep 18, 2009
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Knies is making pennies on the dollar and contributing as though he gets paid 11 million a year. The top players have been lack luster and streaky at best so far this season, and Knies has been the only other constant to Stolarz. I hope he takes them to the cleaners. Everyone else did.
Leafs have no clue how to manage the cap and will overpay just like the brady bunch
 

meefer

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Jun 9, 2015
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If you can't differentiate between the the utility of a 6'1" 200 plus pound checker from a 5'8" 180 pound player playing a checking game, I can't explain it to you.
Yes, it's almost like they've had the same career trajectories at the same time in their careers.

Zach: at 24 he completes his first full season in the show, 82 games, 98 including the 16 game stint in 15/16. 14 total goals (10 in the 16/17 season), 34 total points. 16:41 TOI in the 16/17 season. Points/60 that season, 1.227.

Nick: at 23 has now played...96 games. 18 total goals, 35 total points. 11:22 TOI last year. Points/60 last year, 2.543.

It's almost as if that at the ages of 23/24 the potential of a player is as yet defined. Zach developing his offensive capabilities as his experience developed and his opportunities to play with more skilled players grew. Whereas Nick having just turned 23 might finally be hitting his stride, developing the defensive awareness he required, and is now rounding into the more confident/capable all round player that we had hoped for, and if it continues perhaps he'll even be given a chance to play with more skilled players to see how his offensive talents can be utilized to help the team.

But, if you can't differentiate, I can't explain it to you.
 

Stephen

Moderator
Feb 28, 2002
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Yes, it's almost like they've had the same career trajectories at the same time in their careers.

Zach: at 24 he completes his first full season in the show, 82 games, 98 including the 16 game stint in 15/16. 14 total goals (10 in the 16/17 season), 34 total points. 16:41 TOI in the 16/17 season. Points/60 that season, 1.227.

Nick: at 23 has now played...96 games. 18 total goals, 35 total points. 11:22 TOI last year. Points/60 last year, 2.543.

It's almost as if that at the ages of 23/24 the potential of a player is as yet defined. Zach developing his offensive capabilities as his experience developed and his opportunities to play with more skilled players grew. Whereas Nick having just turned 23 might finally be hitting his stride, developing the defensive awareness he required, and is now rounding into the more confident/capable all round player that we had hoped for, and if it continues perhaps he'll even be given a chance to play with more skilled players to see how his offensive talents can be utilized to help the team.

But, if you can't differentiate, I can't explain it to you.

Zach Hyman and Nick Robertson have almost nothing in common in career trajectory, body type or play style or even strengths as players.

Hyman was a 4 year college player after being a late round pick out of the OJHL and didn't have his breakout until 22 at the NCAA level, playing his first pro hockey at 23. His career trajectory from grunt to 50 goal scorer is also completely unique in the game of hockey. Yes, there are also examples of other late bloomers like Mason Marchment, Carter Verhaeghe, who were ex-Leaf property but they hardly apply to Nick Robertson. He was a 2nd rounder who experienced a typical D+1 boom and has been mishandled for 4 years with significant injuries along the way.

This isn't to say Robertson won't breakout somewhere down the line, but to suggest he's worth holding onto because of Hyman's experience is just not practical. We got Dennis Malgin at 22 and we got Nic Petan at 24.

If you can't work that out, I don't know what to tell you.
 
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