Maple Leafs reveal the real reason Pontus Holmberg got the nod over Nick Robertson
Keefe Explains Why They Called Up Holmberg
The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to call up Pontus Holmberg earlier this week.
This came as a bit of a shock for Leafs fans.
Not only will he take Fraser Minten's spot on the lineup, but he got recalled instead of Nicholas Robertson, who's been dominating the AHL recently with five points in two games. Holmberg, on the other hand, scored two points in these games.
Sheldon Keefe was asked to explain the decision to bring Honlmberg up.
Here's what he said:
"A combination of things. Bertuzzi's status was one of the reasons, and we just like the player. He is a good player and played a lot of good hockey for us last season."
Keefe Talks About Holmberg's Disappointing Training Camp
Holmberg was outplayed by a lot of young players like Easton Cowen and Fraser Minten. We weren't the only ones to notice this, Shaledon Keefe saw it too.
Here's what he said on Holmberg after he didn't make the Leafs' opening roster:
"To be honest, I thought his camp was a little underwhelming after we had come to expect him to be a good player for us last year. In the early part of last season, he was really good and really consistent for us. I don't think he asserted himself the way we want to see him in training camp.
Also, the emergence of guys like Minten, Cowan, and those kinds of players — for a lot of the camp, they outplayed him, quite frankly. Now you are giving those young guys opportunities that maybe he would've had. That is part of it as well: recognizing that this is a difficult league to play in and a difficult team to make.
Last season, he got off to a tremendous first half for us and hit a wall in the second half. The consistency is really what it is about, but we like a lot about the player."
Also, the emergence of guys like Minten, Cowan, and those kinds of players — for a lot of the camp, they outplayed him, quite frankly. Now you are giving those young guys opportunities that maybe he would've had. That is part of it as well: recognizing that this is a difficult league to play in and a difficult team to make.
Last season, he got off to a tremendous first half for us and hit a wall in the second half. The consistency is really what it is about, but we like a lot about the player."
Do you think Holmberg deserves a spot over Fraser Minten?
As seen on Maple Leafs Insider - Leafs explain decision to call up Holmberg instead of the red-hot Robertson
| POLL | ||
October 21 | 302 answers Maple Leafs reveal the real reason Pontus Holmberg got the nod over Nick Robertson Who do you think should play tonight? | ||
| Robertson | 118 | 39.1 % |
| Minten | 60 | 19.9 % |
| Holmberg | 124 | 41.1 % |
| LIST OF POLL | ||
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