NHL Rumors: The Toronto Maple Leafs Left Wing Depth Relies on What Occurs with Nick Robertson

TSN: Chris Johnston on the first Up present on TSN 590 radio on the rumors surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs, their depth at left wing and Nick Robertson.

** NHLRumors.com transcription

Aaron Korolnek: “I needed to ask you to start these rumors across the Toronto Maple Leafs who’re contemplating choices at left wing. And we all know it’s (Matthew) Knies, and (Bobby) McMann, and perhaps some mixture of (Max) Domi and (Pontus) Holmberg, Connor Dewar, perhaps Easton Cowan can think about there.

What have you ever heard with respect to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their pursuit of left wing depth?

Johnston: “Nicely I feel, you already know, clearly, at this stage of the summer time, you already know, the Leafs are nonetheless working by means of what occurs with Nick Robertson, who you didn’t point out. However, however he, you already know, there’s a reasonably clear path for him to be a part of the combination at left wing. To doubtlessly have a job, you already know, that exceeds what he’s had up to now.

However, you already know, at this stage, Nick Robertson doesn’t appear inclined to check in Toronto, and, you already know, is sticking to the concept he’d wish to play elsewhere. And so I feel they must sort of type that out first or as a part of this.

So, you already know, it’s not as if there are, you already know, 5 or 6 high-quality gamers on the market that, that would play that place, that may be signed. However I feel that, you already know, clearly the group acknowledges it’s an space that, you already know, they’re going to must, you already know, handle, particularly if Robertson isn’t a part of the plans.

However, you already know, we’ve had a number of gamers up to now, however not all the time publicly, you already know, suppose that their their time’s up with a company, you already know, have these sort of requests, and it doesn’t all the time result in a parting of the methods.

And so I feel that’s most likely the very first thing that must be sorted out as a part of determining, you already know, what that left facet goes to seem like, you already know, come coaching camp within the begin of the 12 months.

Carlo Colaiacovo: “So sorry, CJ, are you able to elaborate on that a bit bit. So Nick Robertson isn’t traded and he’s not signed, do you see a state of affairs the place he doesn’t report back to camp?

I imply, only recently, we noticed (Yaroslav) Askerov, the goalie in Nashville demand a commerce, after which we see Barry Trotz come out and say, ‘No, we don’t care what he’s going to say, he’s going to report the camp,’ after which a pair days later, he’s traded.

How do you really anticipate this Robertson state of affairs to play out? Does he maintain out or does he get traded?

Johnston: “You recognize, it’s, it’s a tricky one to say. I imply, actually, it actually comes right down to the participant in the end. Does the participant have the specified or the, the flexibility to stay to a commerce request? Or, you already know, because it will get nearer to camp, and if the Leafs determine to not commerce them, or they’ll’t discover one, a transfer that is smart. You recognize, Is he actually going to take a seat out?

I don’t know the way Nick and you already know, will reply on this state of affairs. And I feel it’s nearly exhausting to know till you get to the defining moments. However let’s, let’s (dig out?) a bit bit. I imply, Nick Robertson’s 22 years outdated. The Leafs have modified head coaches.

You recognize, a part of, I feel it’s the satisfaction or, you already know what he’s involved about his position during the last couple of years, that he’s been yo-yo’ed, a bit bit. Clearly, a giant a part of that’s that he’s been injured, a pair totally different important accidents in latest seasons.

However, you already know, this 12 months he would want waivers. So it’s not as if he’s going to be despatched to the minors I wouldn’t suppose. He’s obtained an opportunity to, you already know, play for a brand new coach and, and the Leafs don’t have as many gamers forward of him on the depth chart as they’ve had.

So, you already know, I feel there’s, there’s undoubtedly a path to and an actual one, not, not simply, you already know, lip service, for him to have a much bigger position. And so in the end, we obtained to see what they determine.

However you already know, he had a reasonably good 12 months final 12 months, 14 targets, 13 of them at even power, for somebody who performed, you already know, 9 or 10 minutes an evening and didn’t play all 82 video games, I feel there’s some promise there for him.

However that being mentioned, you already know, I don’t know if there’s numerous groups banging down the door to, to pay him some exorbitant sum of cash. So, you already know actually, I feel it makes probably the most sense for the Leafs to maintain him. However you already know, at a sure level, clearly, that may require Nick to signal a contract and be prepared to come back to camp. S

o you already know, it’s going to be a narrative that most likely will acquire in significance right here as we get to mid-September and see actually, you already know, is he going to stay to his weapons, or, in the end, is he going to determine it’s finest for him to proceed his profession in Toronto and simply see how issues go? And perhaps that, perhaps they make an settlement, a facet settlement, okay, signal this deal one 12 months, deal perhaps. And if it’s not working at a sure level, we’ll transfer you.

However you already know, that is, and I don’t know the way it’s going to play out is absolutely what I’m saying, however I do suppose, you already know, it makes a of sense from his finish and the Leafs finish to in the end find yourself collectively. I simply, you already know, I don’t know if that’s going to occur or not.”