Craig Berube Praises Unlikely Hero Following Standout Performance Against Utah Hockey Club
Craig Berube had some high praise for one of the Maple Leafs' most polarizing forwards, knowing he is going to break out sooner or later.
It's been a hit-and-miss season for the Maple Leafs so far. They've had great goaltending, a much-improved defense, and huge production from Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares while also dealing with injuries galore.
But they also have a complete lack of production from their bottom six, with the only person with any stats of note being Max Domi, who got all his points in the first two weeks of the season.
One name that sticks out like a sore thumb is Nick Robertson, who has only one goal and has been the subject of rampant trade speculation in recent weeks. But his head coach still believes in him and thinks it's just a matter of time.
Why Is Nick Robertson Struggling To Score?
No one knows for sure, and there was so much hype surrounding Robertson after a red-hot preseason where he led the team in scoring. But he hasn't been able to do anything, and there's no indication of exactly why.
There certainly are factors that play into Robertson's inability to score, but it's hard to narrow down one specific thing. If you look at his NHL EDGE statistics, he ranks terribly amongst the league average.
- 1 goal (League Avg. 3.5)
- 3.7% shooting (League Avg. 12.6%)
- Ranks Below the 50th Percentile in Goals, Shots, Zone Time, Skating Speed, and Distance
He's shot the puck 27 times, and while he doesn't have the hardest of shots, he does have accuracy, which has led him to get unlucky hitting some posts as well.
He's been given chance after chance to play and produce but he can't, and for as much as Berube believes in him, the evidence is there.
He has to perform better in these situations or he's going to be out of town.
FAQ: Why Craig Berube Believes In Nick Robertson
Q1: Why is Craig Berube still using Nick Robertson?
A1: It's unclear as to the exact reason, but Berube is known for not giving up on players, and he believes Robertson's lack of production is not indicative to his talent, and thinks he'll put it together.
Q2: What will happen if Nick Robertson doesn't perform
A2: If Nick Robertson doesn't perform, he is going to more than likely be a named that Toronto could use as a trade candidate in order for for Brad Treliving to get what he needs for the Maple Leafs.
In closing, Nick Robertson hasn't shown any production besides one goal, and fans are getting frustrated. But Craig Berube hasn't given up on him just yet and thinks that he is going to break out of his slump soon.
| POLL | ||
Is Nick Robertson going to get better or should Toronto trade him? | ||
