TSN: Chris Johnston on Nick Robertson’s standing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, that there’s a chance there for him, however will he re-sign with the group?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Jamie McLennan: “I wish to return to Nick Robertson. The place do you assume these talks are, or the place do you assume they’ll find yourself? In a scenario the place, I don’t, do you imagine, he’s a younger participant, 22, I believe he had what, 13, 14 objectives final yr?
Jeff O’Neill: “Effectively, he obtained unhappy a bunch of occasions, and each time he got here again he scored.”
McLennan: “I do know, however what like, okay, so, what’s he? Is he, I don’t know what he’s as a participant but. Is he a 9, a top-nine? Is he a top-six? Does he imagine? The place do you assume he matches?
After which, clearly, with each greenback counting, with them being tight towards the cap, like, not like they’ll supply him an enormous increase right here. So, you understand, the place do you assume this all ends? Or, you understand, the place do you assume that he can match? As a result of if they’re bringing different guys, they, there is likely to be guys that push him out of the lineup.
Johnston: “For certain. And you understand what’s distinctive right here, this doesn’t appear to be, you understand, associated to cash. It’s not as if there’s a breakdown in negotiations.
I imply, this commerce request was made, you understand, after he obtained his, you understand, you understand, after they retained his rights as an RFA and a (inaudible), and so, you understand, it’s not about cash. I believe it’s been concerning the alternative.
And, you understand, for these of us that don’t have any feelings concerned on this, simply simply watching from the surface, you understand, I believe you sit right here on the impartial social gathering and say, Okay, that is the primary yr you’re not going to require waivers. Sorry, you’ll require waivers to go to Marlies, so that you’re probably not going to go on waivers. You’re gonna be within the NHL.
If you happen to had a problem along with your taking part in time, possibly that was linked to your head coach. Effectively the Leafs modified head coaches and Craig Berube is in cost now.
They usually’re simply not as deep, fairly frankly, on paper, as they’ve been in years passed by. I imply, I believe it’s fairly clear to see, Matthew Knies I believe might be a top-six choice for them on left wing. Nobody else you possibly can say for certain. I imply, possibly Bobby McMann, coming off an damage, can fill that function. Possibly it’s a Robertson. Possibly it’s somebody who isn’t but signed, or a participant that finally ends up coming in on tryout.
However level is, there’s fairly clearly a chance there. And a minimum of so far, Nick Robertson has been unwilling to wish to proceed and signal on with the Leafs.
And so, the place does it find yourself? I imply, I believe it relies upon how strongly he believes in his convictions. Does he, is he prepared to take a seat out, you understand, days, weeks, months, to show his level, to attempt to power organizations hand.
I imply, in the end, that is completely different, even than many, a few years in the past, the place the (William) Nylander – Leafs arise, which, you understand, standoff, which was about cash. Nylander was a fairly confirmed piece at that time. Clearly had room to develop, however was an essential member of the group.
I imply, I believe nobody can say with certainty what Nick Robertson is for the Leafs. I imply, fairly encouraging to see the variety of objectives he scored final yr, 14 of them, 13 and even power. However, you understand, can he do it over a time frame? Might he deal with extra minutes? Can he be in additional of a chief time function?
I imply, I believe he’s obtained to nonetheless present it. He’s obtained to show it. And the one approach to do this is, you understand, in the end, by taking part in someplace. And so you understand, he’s going to have nowhere to play, a minimum of in North America, if he continues to stay, you understand, agency to his his want to be traded and the leafs don’t commerce him as a result of they management his rights so long as he’s a restrictive free agent.
