Nick Robertson's Path to Maple Leafs Lineup Clears After Major Roster Shake-Up
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson might have a much easier path to the lineup after the team went through a major shake-up involving some veteran forwards.
Suffice to say, it hasn't been the easiest start to the weekend for the Toronto Maple Leafs front office. Firstly, Scott Laughton was announced to be out for several weeks, and the team also made a move involving David Kampf by placing him on waivers.
While part of it wasn't a natural progression of things, this is indeed a bit of a roster shakeup only one day before the final preseason game and less than a week from the regular season kicking off.
But as cloudy as things are for the team now, there may be a silver lining for one forward who has been waiting for his chance to strike: Nick Robertson.
Injuries and Waivers Shift the Roster Picture
With the injury to Laughton, one that may take him out for a decent chunk of the beginning of the season, it leaves a hole down the middle on the fourth line.
That role would normally be filled by Kampf, however his waiver claim and seemingly quick drop-off from lineup regular to outsider shows that the team might want a different direction.
While he shines as a winger, Steven Lorentz is more than capable of filling in a fourth-line center role, which necessitates a spot. There's two names who can grab it, one being Robertson and the other is Calle Jarnkrok.
While Jarnkrok is the veteran and more reliable option historically, Robertson is such an offensive wildcard that it's almost worth seeing what he can do. Plus, it would be very interesting to see how he and Easton Cowan work together.
There's a now pretty sizeable hole in what was once an airtight lineup, and Robertson has the chance to take advantage.
Robertson's Mindset Ahead of His Final Preseason Game
He understands this too, and his mindset ahead of his final preseason game against Detroit is a testament to that.
He's treating it as a game to shine in front of family and friends, and his loose attitude and excitement at playing in a self-professed 'home game' is only going to boost his confidence.
Taking that confidence, turning it into a strong performance, and then carrying that into the regular season will not only give Robertson a chance to stick around for a bit, but he could end up being a crucial part of the offense.
Last year was a mixed bag for the former second-round pick. He managed 22 points in 67 games (15 goals, 7 assists); the goals were a career high but he was extremely inconsistent all season.
But knowing how important it is for him to put in a strong effort, coupled with Toronto's sudden roster shakeup, Nick Robertson has a very good chance at making the Maple Leafs lineup but has to earn his way into keeping that spot.
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