TSN: Chris Johnston on Overdrive with Bryan Hayes and Frank Corrado on the contract scenario between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson, and Robertson’s need to maneuver on from the staff. May the Maple Leafs herald some PTOs if Robertson isn’t in camp.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Hayes: “The place do you stand or what, the place do the Leafs stand on this Nick Robertson scenario?”
Johnston: “You understand, it’s form of at a standstill proper now. You understand, my understanding is Nick Robertson’s need to maneuver on hasn’t modified. You understand however the truth stays, he’s a restricted free agent. He solely has so many rights.
Primarily, if he doesn’t wish to signal a contract and the group decides to not transfer him, actually all he might do is miss time and attempt to put strain on the staff that approach. However clearly it comes at a price to him, each when it comes to getting in control in coaching camp and probably taking part in video games, and clearly the monetary price.
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And so, you realize, I don’t know the way it will likely be resolved, however you realize, as we’re getting actually near the beginning of September right here, it doesn’t appear to be a decision in sight. And you realize, one factor Brad Treliving mentioned again on July 1 is, you realize, the Leafs have a necessity for Nick Robertson.
I imply, he’s, he’s obtained an ideal alternative this season, each due to, I feel, what he confirmed final yr, the truth that it (dissipates to his age?) to get higher, but additionally the dearth of, you realize, they don’t have as a lot depth left wing as they’ve in some years passed by.
And so, you realize, possibly there’s a path to rebuild issues. However proper now, you realize, it doesn’t appear that, it’s not an apparent answer on the market that I see. It seems possibly the sport of hen will go on a bit of bit longer.”
Corrado: “Do you assume it’s a kind of conditions, CJ, the place they present as much as camp they usually say, that is your spot if you happen to go on the market and present us you’re able to it? Or is there extra of a, I don’t know, some PTOs that get signed, and possibly they hedge their bets towards that really taking place.”
Johnston: “It could possibly be each. And I feel you must have an understanding 100% the place issues are at with Robertson, as a result of clearly, you’re attending to a spot the place he truly isn’t going to be again subsequent season. You understand, you’re gonna have a bit of bit extra money to play with beneath the cap, and also you’ll have a bit extra of a roster spot to fill, you realize.
So within the meantime, I feel it’s honest to imagine you see a PTO. I imply, these can profit the staff a numbers degree. You get a free have a look at a participant. You get veteran gamers in that allow you to attain the minimal if you’re taking part in all these preseason video games.
You understand, so I feel lots of it would hinge on how precisely it unfolds with Robertson. They usually’ve obtained three weeks or so from now, a bit of bit extra earlier than camp opens, I feel, to get that readability earlier than the signal the place to go.
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However I imply that the very fact of the matter stays, this isn’t actually a ton of choices on the open market, unsigned, at this cut-off date. There’s not lots of apparent upgrades or something like that. You’re taking a look at gamers which can be depth choices, veterans making an attempt to squeeze one other yr out of their profession.
And so, you realize, there’s in all probability a lot of ways in which that they’ll deal with that gap if there may be one, however I feel, first, they’ve to find out if there’s truly going to be a gap there, for certain.”
