I've been amongst the biggest Robertson fans up until this year... but let's pump the brakes a little. He had one good game, and needs to back it up a little more than that, for us to gift him a roster spot the rest of the year... in particular given you've banished McMann to the fourth line. To me, it was McMann who drove that line last night, and was really making things happen.
Nicky Bobby has had several great games this year, where he's in the corners, dogged on the forecheck and able to find the space to get his shot off. Then he goes back to being a passenger with bad body language who has to fight for every inch of space.
But he needs to do it more than one in every six games. Credit to him, he bet on himself at the start which is a ballsy move, and it hasn't really panned out for him, but he's still out there trying.
You're obviously not expecting him to come out like last night every game, that would make him a PPG star, but he has to kick it up to maybe one in three to keep his spot. He can but will he?
==
Anybody think they should be sniffing around Kakko? 1x2.4, big body, left shot, can play some C and producing somewhat (29-4-10-14), I wouldn't give the farm for him and his development hasn't been excellent, but what kind of favorable usage have the Rags been giving him?
I'd do Niemela, Kampf and the 2026 3rd, for him and a 2025 5th, could be a low risk medium reward move.