Maple Leafs’ Nick Robertson deserves a bigger role this season

Craig Berube and the Toronto Maple Leafs owe more to Nick Robertson.

The 24-year-old winger has done everything the team has asked of him and more, and for some reason, can’t seem to be a regular within the Leafs’ lineup. Robertson has been great this season, showing off his blazing speed, strong work ethic, newfound physical touch, and advanced offensive instincts, and despite the stellar play, he found himself in the press box on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Yes, Calle Jarnkrok hadn’t played in awhile, and it’s not ideal for someone making $2.1 million AAV to be sitting out so much, but that’s not Robertson’s fault. There’s no world where Jarnkrok should be getting minutes over Robertson. The tough part is with the way Berube has the lines made up, Robertson got pushed down to the fourth line, and eventually out of the lineup.

The former second-round pick has recorded six goals and six assists, for 12 points in 27 games this season. He’s averaging 12:39 of ice-time per night, which is actually a career high for Robertson. His shooting percentage is 15.4%, again, a career high, and before he got scratched was on pace for roughly 100 hits, which, you guessed it, would be a career high.

Robertson should be the Maple Leafs’ second-line left winger. Easton Cowan should be playing right wing on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, as his facilitation abilities are much better suited for playing with the two big boys up front. Robertson can ride the left side with John Tavares and William Nylander, and use his speed to hound pucks, and find open areas of the ice to get off his booming shot. While Robertson isn’t a pass-first type of player, his passing abilities are underrated, and he’s done a great job to look to make a play this season, as appose to just trying to get off his booming wrister.

Robertson’s done everything Berube has asked for with evolving his game to be a complete player, and it’s still not enough. Ahead of the Lightning game on Monday, Berube was asked about why Robertson isn’t dressed, as many are left scratching their heads with the way he’s been treated.

“It’s dropped off. I have all the confidence that he’ll get it back. To me, he’s lost a little bit of his jump and his tenacity he plays with, but, at the same time, that’s a little bit of ice time and getting the opportunity, too.”

Talk about a confusing message. The message here is essentially that he hasn’t done enough, but also that he hasn’t gotten the proper ice time to succeed. Berube needs to get this right this season. Enough is enough. It feels like this has been the same song and dance Robertson’s had to deal with since entering the league five years ago. 183 career NHL games under his belt, and Robertson can’t get a regular shift. Frankly, it makes no sense.

While Robertson and Max Domi have some serious chemistry on the ice, it’s actually Domi that is likely one of the big reasons why the lineup is constructed the way it is. Domi’s ability to pass the puck is among the best on the team, so yes, he makes some level of sense for the top line, however, he hasn’t played consistent enough to warrant first-line minutes. Domi should be moved down to the fourth line, and be one of the trade candidates Brad Treliving is discussing. Cowan should be getting reps with Knies and Matthews, and building their chemistry, as why not have that trio as your top line in Toronto for the next few years? Robertson can bring his speed to Tavares’ wing, and considering the hockey sense among the three, it feels like it would only be a matter of time before Robertson, Nylander and Tavares break out.

At the end of the day, Robertson has asked for a trade before, and with the way things are going for him early on this season, you can’t blame him if another trade request comes across Treliving’s desk. Berube is mis-managing his ice time, he’s being played in the wrong spot in the Maple Leafs’ lineup, and his talent is surely being wasted if he’s not even going to dress over Jarnkrok.

The Maple Leafs owe Robertson more and continue to smother his untapped potential.