Mike Augello: Are The Leafs Looking For Left Wing Help?

From last blog:

Let's be fair to Nick Robertson - he looked pretty decent and competitive for a lot of the year. He's crafty but isn't the best skater. He works hard, but isn't always effective or accomplishing what he's trying to do.

We know he has defensive shortcomings - and he didn't play with Kampf on the checking line, for example, as a result of that. He did play 217 minutes with Domi as his centre (12GF / 10 GA), 127 minutes with Holmberg as his centre (9GF / 6GA) and 89 minutes with Tavares as his centre (6GF / 4GA).

He was 16th in the NHL in G/60 at 5v5, so he was making the most of the minutes he received and the minimal power play time he received (45 minutes) were negligible - but of his contemporaries on the Leafs who also received a glance of PP time, he did outperform Knies, McMann and Jarnkrok; he did have more PP points/60 than Bertuzzi or Domi.

I say this not to talk up Robertson too much but to note that he is much better than many want to dismiss him as being. He deserves a shot to stick in the top-6 and if he fails then he deserves a shot to prove that he can be effective secondary scoring - Daniel Sprong has carved out an entire career being what Nick Robertson presently is and I think Robertson can be more.
- Monkeypunk


He's skilled, small and often injured and the Leafs have enough small / skilled but not really physical players.

He definitely has trade value and I'd be using the info you posted above in the conversations when trying to use him as part of a trade to get more of what the Leafs are short on but that's just me.

LW/C

Jenner 💙

LW/C

Jenner 💙
- mr.sir

M'eh for me.

Last time Toronto traded with the Blue Jackets for a 30+ year old to provide some toughness it didn't work out that well.....Jenner from 5 years ago for sure but now I'm not so sure.

M'eh for me.

Last time Toronto traded with the Blue Jackets for a 30+ year old to provide some toughness it didn't work out that well.....Jenner from 5 years ago for sure but now I'm not so sure.
- Cush29

Agreed on Jenner...its been years since he's played a full season.
But on Foligno, he was great until he got injured 5 games in.

LW/C

Jenner 💙
- mr.sir

You and Jenner can (frank) right off!

Jenner from the block

Monkeypuck

If you want Robertson in the top 6 either Marner or Nylander need to go. Can’t have that many weak ass forwards up there.

He’s useless. Hasn’t been traded because the available returns are likely sweet (frank) all.

Monkey puck

If you want Robertson in the top 6 either Marner or Nylander need to go. Can’t have that many weak ass forwards up there.

He’s useless. Hasn’t been traded because the available returns are likely sweet (frank) all.
- Dozzer

why is he useless?

why is he useless?
- senstroll

Well... what's his use?

Well... what's his use?
- Scabeh

you just had to go there didn't you...

you just had to go there didn't you...
- 21peter

He's skilled, small and often injured and the Leafs have enough small / skilled but not really physical players.

He definitely has trade value and I'd be using the info you posted above in the conversations when trying to use him as part of a trade to get more of what the Leafs are short on but that's just me.
- Cush29

I am not overly attached to Robertson one way or the other - so if they could get fair value for him, I'd move him. I think the challenge right _now_ is that statistically you know his value is higher than he is selling for. Right now the teams that may come calling for Robertson (if there are any at all) are offering pennies on the dollar for exactly the reasons you stated in your first sentence. The Leafs can counter, but if he's a risk to the other teams, they're not going to pay any more - they'd be bargain hunting if they kick tires on Robertson anyway.

The Leafs need him to prove and live up to the points I was trying to make about his statistical performance last year exceeding his value. If he can demonstrate sustainability in that performance and show growth then he becomes an asset that we can recoup value from or he becomes an asset to us that we would like to pay to retain. At this point I think he's probably worth a 3rd at the absolute most, probably a 4th. For instance Cody Glass, who I think is at least more highly considered that Robertson, just went for a 3rd and a 6th (Jordan Frasca, the other player involved, was a contract move I think).

Right now we have Robertson's rights, we have no need to trade him and if someone offers him an offer sheet it's not going to exceed the Holloway $2.2m, so we're either matching or getting a 3rd. I just don't see why they'd move him unless forced to. He should sign and try to increase his value.

Either way it's not the end of the world obviously, but you wouldn't go out of your way to trade a 2nd for a 4th - if there was any way to make that 4th more valuable.

RE Bruce


lol you guys make this sound absurd.

JT is still a 65P player when the average for a second line C is 50P.

I think he was making fun of the fact that Robertson dropped 17 goals.

why is he useless?
- senstroll

He’s a poopty every other game point producer who only got drafted second round because it was Dubas. Late second rounder who probably would have been a third rounder without a poopty “only skill” GM.

He’s useless because he’s only a top 6 guy and you can’t plug him onto a line with Nylander or Marner…. They’re already weak as (frank).

RE Bruce


lol you guys make this sound absurd.

JT is still a 65P player when the average for a second line C is 50P.

I think he was making fun of the fact that Robertson dropped 17 goals.
- AdamFrench

In 87 games…

That sucks.

You and Jenner can (frank) right off!


- .HOHO.

If you and Fake are against it……

I’m doubling down

Well... what's his use?
- Scabeh

mostly someone for leaf fans to poop on

In 87 games…

That sucks.
- Dozzer

there is one player in the entire 2019 second round that has scored at a higher goals per game. Pinto who was taken as the first pick in rd 2.

there is one player in the entire 2019 second round that has scored at a higher goals per game. Pinto who was taken as the first pick in rd 2.
- senstroll

Don’t care. The leafs top six is far better than he is and he’s no bottom six guy.

Useless waste of poop for the leafs. Leaf fans only like him as much as they do because the leafs’ prospects suck absolute ass.

mostly someone for leaf fans to poop on
- senstroll

And he’s a non playoff team top six guy… and nothing more

Well... what's his use?
- Scabeh

a left handed screwdriver ......

Monkeypuck

If you want Robertson in the top 6 either Marner or Nylander need to go. Can’t have that many weak ass forwards up there.

He’s useless. Hasn’t been traded because the available returns are likely sweet (frank) all.
- Dozzer

Right now what are the lines? I've seen something like:

Knies - Matthews - Domi
Nylander - Tavares - Marner
McMann - Holmberg - Jarnkrok
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves

Or

Knies - Matthews - Domi
McMann - Tavares - Marner
Jarnkrok - Holmberg - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves

In Option 1 line 2 is possibly going to be too soft (noting that in 76 minutes together over the past three years, they are -3 at 5v5).

Option 2 is an idea to spread the wealth and doesn't do too much more to help. McMann is a bigger body but he's not exactly a defensive stalwart.
Now what has Bobby McMann done to deserve being in the top-6? He was awarded a contract higher than one they seem willing to offer Robertson and scored 15 goals and 9 assists in 56 games. Robertson had 14 goals and 13 assists in 57 games.

I don't want to be misconstrued here - I am not advocating that Robertson is some elite hidden gem. He's better than his current value suggests, probably deserves as much of a shot up in the lineup as anyone else who is a natural left-winger on this team - but if the Leafs could magically find a 2LW who fits into our $1m of capspace available then I'm all for it. Can Alex Nylander do it?

Ultimately Nick Robertson is just 22 and isn't a failed prospect yet. Leaf fans love to throw out everyone who isn't a star in the first 2 years. Some guys, like Zack Hyman as an unfair comparison, take time to grow into their game.

If the argument is that Robertson is demanding to be given an opportunity he hasn't earned, I would say that's pretty fair. He hasn't earned anything and his impatience is immature and foolish and his agent should be doing everything he can to discourage it. But I'm simply looking at our current roster and asking who fills the void on 2LW as cheaply and offers upside if they can do it well.

The reason to give Robertson the opportunity is to "give them rope" so to speak.

Jakob Vrana and Austin Watson are unsigned I think.

Not sure if these guys are dead or injured but Vrana played for Berube before, no?