Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Nick Robertson (1 year, $875k)

[Tarmore]

He spent the first 20 games laying on the ice.

I know there are several of you that like to trash players, but this is fantasy.

He has also drawn several penalties at critical points in games.

 

[banks]

He's been playing well. and teams need depth at all positions in the playoffs. I don't mind if he's in a package for an upgrade at the deadline. That makes sense. But I don't want him to be liquified for a pick or anything like that. There's no sense in that.

Who knows what happens in the playoffs. If a star winger gets hurt, suddenly Robertson could be a very important guy for a stretch. You need talent just like you need grit on the roster.

 

[ITM]

He's been playing well. and teams need depth at all positions in the playoffs. I don't mind if he's in a package for an upgrade at the deadline. That makes sense. But I don't want him to be liquified for a pick or anything like that. There's no sense in that.

Who knows what happens in the playoffs. If a star winger gets hurt, suddenly Robertson could be a very important guy for a stretch. You need talent just like you need grit on the roster.

Has Robertson had a change of heart? If there's a lateral move to be made with an asset who wants to be a Leaf and we know will remain a Leaf past this season, I think maximizing his value in trade for that asset rather than liquidating it for a pick makes a lot sense as well.

 

[leafan11]

Still not big on trading him, does anyone actually think Patches is a better alternative ?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Still not big on trading him, does anyone actually think Patches is a better alternative ?

They have the exact same amount of points. One has a career unmatched by many players in the league, and the other we're still wondering about. Common sense and 20/20 vision says yes. The only thing holding up your backbone in this argument is Patches' age and health.

 

[BertCorbeau]

He’s a trade chip if it improves the team but at this point that’s all it should be.

He’s viable scoring winger depth in the top 9 and is only 23 with only 137 NHL games under his belt. No harm is keeping him.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Robertson's cheap and he still feels like a waste of money.

He has a hard shot but it's not really accurate. Kinda reminds me of Happy Gilmore that way. Happy might actually be the better hockey player.

There are sooooo many problems with Nick Robertson.

He doesn't have a lot of creativity with the puck. He doesn't seem to know where he's supposed to be in the offensive zone. He's all rush shots with limited passing ability to play a structured system.

And he fires his shot so wide he could score on his own net.

Maybe a lot of these things boil down to confidence. Or maybe the things he did that made him successful in the lower levels don't work in the NHL. Whatever it is I'm not seeing the dynamic player people were raving about when drafted.

RIght now he's just a waste of a million bucks and a roster spot.

 

[123offtheglass]

Still not big on trading him, does anyone actually think Patches is a better alternative ?

Really close, but he also brings a needed physical element for playoffs while Robertson is the opposite, even if he's trying.

 

[Stringer Bell]

Robertson's cheap and he still feels like a waste of money.

He has a hard shot but it's not really accurate. Kinda reminds me of Happy Gilmore that way. Happy might actually be the better hockey player.

There are sooooo many problems with Nick Robertson.

He doesn't have a lot of creativity with the puck. He doesn't seem to know where he's supposed to be in the offensive zone. He's all rush shots with limited passing ability to play a structured system.

And he fires his shot so wide he could score on his own net.

Maybe a lot of these things boil down to confidence. Or maybe the things he did that made him successful in the lower levels don't work in the NHL. Whatever it is I'm not seeing the dynamic player people were raving about when drafted.

RIght now he's just a waste of a million bucks and a roster spot.

I wouldn't go that far. He's certainly been a disappointment because you hope for more. But at 850k can you really expect more?

Only thing I might wonder is what Steeves stat line might look like this year if he was given the length of rope that Robertson has had. Would it be better?