Nick Robertson’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs is uncertain, but his offense in the pre-season could certainly move things along, according to David Alter.
In a recent game, Robertson was one of a few NHLers sent by the Leafs to take on a lineup full of the Ottawa Senators’ first-stringers, and the winger flexed his biggest strength: his shot. He took a drop pass from teammate David Kampf and let a rip from the top circle go for Toronto’s second goal in a 4-3 victory.
Understanding that there isn’t a lot to take from pre-season hockey, Robertson’s showing during this time is still important. After agreeing to a one-year, $1,825,000 contract and settling his case away from arbitration, Robertson doesn’t really project to be a regular forward in head coach Craig Berube’s lineup. His grouping with Calle Järnkrok and David Kämpf in Ottawa signaled as much. But with Mitch Marner’s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights, Robertson needs to show that he can score on a consistent basis. The Leafs don’t necessarily need him to be a depth forward this season. Toronto added to their depth by acquiring Nic Roy in the Marner sign-and-trade deal in June, and the acquisition of Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks also helped shore up that need.
However, if Robertson can force the issue by finding the net consistently, there could be a spot for him while Toronto waits for the trade market to open on a top-six forward who could directly fill the void.
What’s helping Robertson this season is his new contract. It’s harder for the Maple Leafs to bury him with a nearly $1 million raise from his compensation last season. He played in 69 of Toronto’s 82 regular-season games in 2024-25 and scored a career-high 15 goals. But as the Leafs shored up their lineup for the playoffs, he was scratched for 10 of the team’s 13 playoff games. When he did play, he scored a goal and added an assist. He’s a player who could certainly fit somewhere if it isn’t in Toronto.
Robertson isn’t alone as a bubble player trying to find his role. Järnkrok and Kämpf have been depth forwards who were the subject of much speculation. Both players looked good in the first pre-season game. Järnkrok, in particular, looks reborn after a year that saw him deal with a groin injury and sports hernia surgery back in November. In my conversation with him last week, he revealed that his issues with injuries actually began in the summer of 2024 before training camp started. And when he did return, he didn’t feel 100 percent. Despite this, Berube still relied on the veteran forward to play in 12 of 13 playoff games. He’s been flying at camp. A right-handed winger who has skated with No. 34 before, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Järnkrok moved up the lineup into that spot if Maccelli or Max Domi don’t prove to be a good fit. That is, of course, if he’s still on the team by then.
Kämpf, on the other hand, doesn’t really have a clear opportunity with the club. A defensive center, the Leafs now have Scott Laughton for this season. Laughton, like a bunch of other newcomers, also plays regularly on the penalty kill, which is seen as one of Kämpf’s strengths in the league. With two more seasons and a salary cap hit of $2.4 million per season, it looks like it’s been a difficult contract for Toronto to move. But even if the Leafs start with three extra players like Järnkrok, Kämpf, and Robertson, it’s not the worst thing. They have the cap flexibility this season to carry the maximum 23 players without being on long-term injured reserve. Depth is a good thing, and for the first time in a while, they have it.