2022-2023 Toronto Maple Leafs Player Grades: Part 3

The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate winning Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on an overtime goal by John Tavares #91 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on April 29, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate winning Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on an overtime goal by John Tavares #91 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on April 29, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 13: Nick Robertson #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

#6. Nicholas Robertson

Stats with the Leafs:

Regular Season:

Games Played: 15

Goals: 2

Assists: 3

Playoffs:

Games Played: 0

Contract Status:

Signed through 2023-24 at $796,667K AAV on a two-way deal.

Overall Thoughts:

There are only a handful (or less) players in this organization that were drafted, groomed in the AHL and are still part of the club. And only one that shows the kind of promise that Nicholas Robertson has in spurts.

He’s fast and has a heavy shot. He’s kind of akin to Phil Kessel without the hot dog sponsorship or his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Robertson had one good game last season. Literally, just one. It came at home against his brother’s team, the Dallas Stars, and Nicholas bested Jason with a two-goal performance, including the overtime winner.

Then, Robertson (the Leaf) did what he typically does: he got injured. This time for the remainder of the season. No one can blame a guy for getting hurt and everyone hopes he can stay upright on his skates, but to be a regular in the NHL, a player must have a body type that can absorb punishment.

The Leafs desperately need a healthy Robertson to push some incumbents with in-house competition and infuse some goal scoring to a pretty lackluster bottom-six forward group.

It feels like Robertson needs to complete grade twelve again before going off to university. For that reason, he will get an incomplete, but he has ‘A’ game potential.