Craig Berube Calls Out Leafs Forward Nick Robertson After Logging Season Low-Minutes
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wasn't pulling any punches in inflicting criticism on Nick Robertson after his team's 3-1 loss to Washington.
Berube, who has not been shy to express his dissatisfaction at the Leafs roster when things aren't going right, took aim at Leafs forward Nick Robertson, signaling a growing frustration with the youngster that was evident in last night's game against the Washington Capitals.
Robertson played in just 9:35 of ice time in a 3-1 loss to Washington, with just two shifts in the third period, according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel.
Berube bluntly admitted to not playing Robertson in the third period, taking him out of the majority of the period for Toronto.
Robertson, who since last season was the subject of trade rumors after struggling to make the Leafs lineup on a consistent basis, was decent with a small sample size with 14 goals and 27 points in 53 NHL games for Toronto in 2023-24, and 5 goals and 11 points in 9 AHL games.
This season, getting a full-time opportunity, Robertson has failed to produce, with just 2 points in 23 games.
Although he is just making $800k, his value appears as low as it's ever been, being a top prospect for the past few years, surely Toronto cannot get a package that warrants being ready to move on from Robertson.
A second round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, 53rd overall. Robertson has just 17 goals and 36 points in 110 career games, having played parts of five seasons with Toronto.
The Leafs have already signaled their willingness to move on from unnecessary spare parts, having traded defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks when they couldn't find a proper space for him in the lineup.
With injured forward Max Pacioretty potentially back in action Saturday, and fellow forwards Max Domi & Bobby McMann appearing close to follow, it's hard to see how Robertson solidifies his full-time roster spot in a revitalized and healthy Leafs team.
| POLL | ||
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Nick Robertson now or later? | ||
| Now | 647 | 76.4 % |
| Later | 106 | 12.5 % |
| Don't trade Robertson | 94 | 11.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
