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Nick Robertson Is Making It Tough for the Maple Leafs Not Play Him During Phase 4

Nick Robertson came in and showed his stuff during Saturday’s scrimmage. In fact, as reported by the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan, he dazzled.

With Zach Hyman out because he was hit by a shot on Friday (we presume that’s why he’s out), Nick Robertson came in and showed his stuff during Saturday’s scrimmage. In fact, as reported by the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan, he dazzled. (from “Robertson makes immediate impact on Matthews’ line in Leafs camp scrimmage,” Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun, 18/07/20)

Although Robertson took advantage of Hyman being out of the lineup, that might not last much longer. For Saturday, at least, plopping Robertson in Hyman’s spot meant that head coach Sheldon Keefe didn’t have to make any additional adjustments to his other three lines. From start to finish, Robertson was a force to be reckoned with as he partnered on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

Specifically, Robertson scored a shorthanded goal to help Team Matthews beat Team Andersen 6-2 during the day’s scrimmage. That goal came during the first period when he went short side on Frederik Andersen. However, as good as Robertson looked, as Keefe reminded reporters, it might be completely different on Sunday. Is Keefe simply being coy?

Related: Why Nick Robertson Should Play in the Postseason

Head Coach Keefe Praises Robertson

Keefe certainly didn’t go overboard praising Robertson; however, he did state: “There’s a lot of emphasis on his skill, with his shot and his goal-scoring ability, but he’s a guy who has a relentless work ethic and that’s a nice foundation for him.”

Then Keefe added, “To bring that out here and move his feet … you saw him hounding the puck. Those are little intangibles to his game that don’t get talked about enough. So it was really nice to see that.”

If you’re a Maple Leafs fan and you’ve watched any of the videos of this week’s training camp, you’ll likely see Robertson forechecking like a madman. He showed that same trait throughout the entire scrimmage. It’s something Peterborough Petes’ fans have come to expect from him after watching him play for three seasons.

This time, he forechecked against NHL regulars, and – as I say – he shined. During one point in the scrimmage, his relentlessness forced defenseman Justin Holl to turnover the puck inside the blue line, which Matthews turned into a goal against his close friend Andersen.

What Happens to Robertson During Training Camp?

What happens with Robertson next is an evolving issue as the team’s training camp moves into its second week. Keefe was a bit aloof in not showing any of his cards. In fact, he seems to be trying to actively defer everyone’s excitement away from Robertson onto the remained of the team’s progress.

Keefe only was ready to comment on Robertson’s play today. His note was that “We thought there would be some benefits to him in terms of giving him a little bit of confidence.”

Finally, Keefe added, “I thought it was really good to see Nick push like that.”

Related: Reputable Insiders Pick Blue Jackets Over Maple Leafs

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