Are the Toronto Maple Leafs still looking for Nick Robertson, or will they keep him now?
The Leafs nation: Darren Dreger on whether the Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking to move forward with Nick Robertson. Robertson is getting more attention in their top six and is being productive. Toronto needs players who can play, and right now Robertson is one.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Jay Rosehill: “His work ethic, his production. He’s been the Leafs’ shining piece in a lot of ways right now, during this terrible stretch. He’s been on the trade block for a year and a half. Does that play soften their idea of maybe moving him or does his stock just go up to maybe get something done? What are you hearing on that front?”
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Dreger: “Yes, it’s a delicate subject, but I have to, at least temporarily, measure almost everything we’re talking about here with a time-sensitive stamp. Because, you know, Nick Robertson had some flashes. He was elevated to the top six and on the top line. And he responded.”
He provides some offense and he’s played some really, really good hockey for them. And once that transformation happened, the message you get from the Leafs is: See ya. That’s why you don’t give players away, because depth matters. Not only in the play-offs, but also in the regular season.
But in saying that, we know that Nick Robertson, as you put it, Rosie, has been in trouble for a long time. Not otherwise David Kampf was, and other pieces of the Maple Leafs. But I’m fine with Treliving knocking and saying, “Look, maybe we should rely on these guys.”
And perhaps the David Kampf scenario will play out differently if he reports to the Marlies. Maybe he gets drafted, and maybe he’s still with the organization. Things didn’t work out that way, and he gets picked by the Vancouver Canucks, and he has a fresh start.
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So Robertson has gotten some life into his life in Toronto, and maybe a little bit into his game. But he responded. He has to keep responding. You know, otherwise he might end up back in their bottom six, and maybe back in the press box. And when that happens, guess what, you know Pat Brisson, who represents Nicky Robertson, is going to call Brad Treliving and say, ‘Hey, yeah, it worked for a while, but it’s not working anymore, so let’s see if we can get something done.
I think there would be some sort of market for Robertson trade-wise. But Toronto needs players. You know, Toronto doesn’t need a third or fourth round draft pick. I mean, things like that as you get closer to the trade deadline, you definitely start stockpiling, but Toronto needs players who can play, and right now they think Nick Robertson is a player who can help.
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