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Maple Leafs Confirm One Final Opportunity for Nicholas Robertson Before Season Opener
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are giving Nicholas Robertson a very important opportunity on Saturday to prove he belongs on the opening night roster.
With five pre-season games down and just one remaining, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear very close to finalizing their roster for opening night on October 8th.
Unfortunately, Scott Laughton will begin the season on the shelf after suffering a lower-body injury on Thursday. That injury has opened up a hole that the Leafs will need to fill.
At first, it appeared as though David Kampf might fill that vacant spot, as he was centering Easton Cowan and Steven Lorentz on Friday at practice. However, when Kampf was placed on waivers shortly thereafter, it raised a lot of questions.
Nicholas Robertson Will Play in Leafs' Pre-Season Finale
One option that the Leafs may have is to shift Steven Lorentz to center on that 4th line and have him play with Cowan and Robertson. Of course, that would require Robertson to prove that he deserves a roster spot.
The Leafs have already confirmed that Robertson will be playing on Saturday's pre-season finale in Detroit, and the young forward had a chance to address the media about his opportunity. His mindset? Just have fun with it.
"You gotta be your best friend in situations like this. So I'm just gonna go tomorrow and just go have some fun, enjoy playing, enjoy the opportunity in a hometown game for me." -Robertson on playing in the pre-season finale
The Leafs Have Options Outside of Nick Robertson
The Leafs have also been linked to the top-remaining UFA, Jack Roslovic, on a number of occasions this summer. A push to sign him could spell disaster for Nick Robertson's chances of making the opening night roster.
Leafs GM Brad Treliving has been working the phones in an attempt to find a trade partner that would allow him to move on from one of Kampf, Robertson or Calle Jarnkrok for most of the summer and fall. Robertson has been previously linked to the San Jose Sharks.
However, a big game from Robertson on Saturday could very well change the organization's mind and allow him a little more runway to prove he can be an everyday NHLer in 2025-26.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 4 | 1119 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Confirm One Final Opportunity for Nicholas Robertson Before Season Opener Do you think a big game from Nick Robertson tonight changes the Maple Leafs' mind on him? | ||
| Yes, a big game changes everything | 422 | 37.7 % |
| No, he's going on waivers | 116 | 10.4 % |
| No, he'll be traded eventually | 581 | 51.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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