Why the Maple Leafs Have Struggled to Trade Nick Robertson
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has the scoop on why the Toronto Maple Leafs have had difficulty trading Nick Robertson as he continues to find his footing on the team.
It's not the easiest job in the world to be an NHL player, that's for sure. To even make it to the league is an accomplishment in and of itself, but sometimes it just doesn't clock for whatever reason.
That's what seems to be currently happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs' forward Nick Robertson, as he hasn't really found himself exceeding expectations and his inconsistency and attitude hasn't endeared him with the fans and they are getting tired of him doing nothing.
He's asked for trades before to get more playing time, he haggled the Maple Leafs into giving him a higher contract by threatening arbitration, and it's like Groundhog Day when it comes to Robertson; is he going to be here or not?
Elliotte Friedman Clears Up Nick Robertson Trade Situation
It's a question that's been burning for the last couple of years now, and according to Elliotte Friedman; he knows the reason why.
The insider explained that Toronto is hesitant to cut ties with Robertson knowing his potential, and they aren't just wanting to dump him off anywhere:
The Leafs will look at and say, he can score, and we don't just wanna give him away, and that's been the challenge here.
I mean yeah he can score, but he has 32 goals in 161 games; to put that into perspective Calle Jarnkrok has 33 goals in 149 games and he is more so a utility player and jack of all trades AND missed nearly the entire season last year.
Is moving him up in the lineup a better alternative to give him a chance to shine?
It's hard to say because while the scoring potential is there, his defense is bang average, he's not as fast as he needs to be, and has to get a better handle on the puck.
Toronto Needs To End The Nick Robertson Experiment
For the Maple Leafs, they need to figure out which direction they want to go. All this talk of identity change and they are still holding onto someone of the past, who doesn't help them in the future; and we've seen that time and time again.
Nick Robertson deserves a chance to play somewhere and allow his natural talent and potential to shine, but it can't be in Toronto.
There's not a fit for him in the lineup, he doesn't give them what they need, and they can't keep spinning their wheels when they have pieces who fit better into Craig Berube's system.
He can shoot and he can score, it's just unfortunate he hasn't really done much of that since being drafted with such high hopes, but there's still time for him to turn it around.
How much time though still remains to be seen.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 18 | 1301 ANSWERS Why the Maple Leafs Have Struggled to Trade Nick Robertson Do you think the Maple Leafs need to trade Nick Robertson? | ||
| Yes | 932 | 71.6 % |
| No | 369 | 28.4 % |
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