TORONTO — As he stands in the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room for the first time during the 2023-24 season but for his fifth season as NHL callup, Nick Robertson’s face tells his story.
His right cheek had recently been sliced open by an opponent’s stick, a follow-through in Laval. So, half the hockey player’s face is red and swollen, the cut still held tight by a Band-Aid.
“It looks like I have the mumps on this side of the face,” Robertson says. “So, my girlfriend’s not really happy with that, but it is what it is.”
The look is on brand.
Call him Nicked Robertson. Takes a beating and keeps bouncing back for more.
Asked what separates this version of himself is different from the one recalled from the Marlies to the Leafs last fall, Robertson shrugs: “I’m 22.”
Same player, same situation, one year older.
The determined left wing with the otherworldly shot has no issue lighting lamps on the farm — five goals and 11 points through nine Marlies games this season — yet is eternally battling two things: the ability to stay healthy for a full 82 games in the pros, and winning Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe’s trust on the defensive side of the puck.
Robertson’s stints in the show have never exceeded 15 games in one season. And despite a decent training camp and a modest salary, it was surprise 19-year-old centre Fraser Minten who earned a forward gig over Robertson.
Certainly, with Robertson in the final year of his contract — and, perhaps, the final year of his and the organization’s patience with each other? — there is pressure, and opportunity, for the kid to stay up for good this time around.
“Don’t try to save the world or win the game on one shift,” Keefe says, as a warning. “Nick is trying to establish himself as an NHL player, and he wants to impress. He’s that type of kid. He is going to give us absolute maximum effort tonight. I don’t question that at all.
“Don’t think too much. Just play. You’re a good player. Move your feet. A lot of things will just fall in place from there.”
Make no mistake: Robertson can hang around if he can produce anywhere close to the way he has in the AHL.
The Maple Leafs, ostensibly built as an offensive powerhouse, rank 15th in goals per game (3.18) despite getting fantastic individual production from their big guns.
Losers of four straight, the Leafs haven’t had a goal from a bottom-six forward in more than two weeks.
Keefe returned to the whiteboard and redrew his lines Sunday.
For one, rookie Matthew Knies has been promoted to the top unit with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
“It’s a privilege to play with those two. I’m really excited about it. I’m really happy to be there. I’m just going to help them out as much as I can,” Knies says.
For two, Max Domi now centres a made-to-score third line flanked by shooters Robertson and Calle Järnkrok. (David Kämpf naturally slides down to centre the fourth line, and Pontus Hölmberg has been returned to the Marlies.)
“It’s not just about goals,” Keefe says. “It’s about time on offence, playing in the offensive zone, sustaining shifts, winning shifts, having energy and pace. And Nick has the ability to do those things. So, I think it just made sense for us to rejig the situation there.”
The Leafs’ woes have paved way for Robertson’s re-audition, and the antsy “prospect” carries with him 20-minute nights and plenty of key-situation shifts on the farm up to the big leagues, and a date Monday with the rival Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I’m really confident now,” says Robertson, who spent all summer rehabbing from shoulder surgery after suffering a season-ending injury with the Leafs last December.
“I played well. I played with confidence and everything. And I haven’t played in a long time. So, it was good to get reps down there and get good minutes to come back up here.”
Before struggling teams search for answers on the outside (i.e., via trade), they first explore whether their problems can be solved internally.
And while it’s true that we’re only 11 games into the campaign, make no mistake that Toronto’s lack of secondary scoring is a big deal in Leafs HQ.
If Robertson can help in that department, it would relieve some pressure on Keefe and Brad Treliving, and — best case – kickstart an NHL career that has had too many false starts.
“I like Robbie a lot. He’s a very hardworking kid. Spent a lot of time working on his game here in the off-season, working on his game, getting stronger,” veteran defenceman Morgan Rielly says.
“His issue is not work ethic, that’s for sure. He’s extremely motivated. Extremely driven. He’s got that fire. I like that in teammates, and he wants to be the best he can be. I think that’s a great quality in people.”
Robertson’s older brother, Jason, lamented that Nick wasn’t already recalled when the Leafs rolled through Dallas a couple weeks back but predicted, accurately, that Nick would get his chance.
Here it is.
“We train very similar and do exact same things in the summer. So, if it’s worked for him, I hope it worked for me,” Nick says, hours before another season debut.
“I just got to be healthy.”
One-Timers: Ilya Samsonov starts in net…. Defenceman Jake McCabe is practising again but will miss a fifth consecutive game recovering from his groin injury…. Defenceman Simon Benoit will make his Maple Leafs debut, replacing Max Lajoie, who was used less than five minutes during Saturday’s loss to Buffalo. “Simplicity and physicality” is what Keefe expects from the 6-foot-4, 205-pound left shot…. Defenceman Mark Giordano was given Sunday’s practice off, as the team is enforcing some rest for a 40-year-old now eating top-four minutes. “He loves his morning skates,” Keefe says.
Maple Leafs projected lines Monday vs. Lightning
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Bertuzzi – Tavares – Nylander
Robertson – Domi – Järnkok
Gregor – Kämpf – Reaves
Rielly – Brodie
Giordano – Klingberg
Lagesson – Benoit
Samsonov starts
Woll
