Lil Tuzzi Bert
Slaw Bunnies
If he can enhance his skating he can be unreal. He bends over far too much as a skater
Nick Robertson, what do you think about this Kid ?
- Thread starter Teeder Keon
- Start date
zeke
The Dube Abides
- Mar 14, 2005
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Caufield was 2yrs older than Nick was in their playoffs games, and they scored goals at the exact same pace in those playoffs.
What I think about Nick Robertson: Covid making him available for games earlier than he would have been did him no favours. Maybe he'll surprise me but I don't put the odds high on him legitimately winning a spot out of camp this fall. Is he a notably better prospect than Brown or Kadri coming out of the OHL? Both got more than a year of AHL time. Be patient with the kid.
yup, I've noticed this too and have mentioned it several times on here as his biggest weakness. I think fundamentally he needs to adjust the way he skates while not in transition. It's fine to be slightly hunched over while skating in transition because there is very little contact while skating in a straight line. Its when he tries to protect the puck, he is so easily pushed over with such little effort largely because he is leaning away from the contact vs leaning into contact. I honestly think his strength last year was not where it needed to be, being that he was 19 and coming off a serious leg injury. But I honestly think the way he protects the puck so hunched over is the biggest problem. It is far easier to knock someone over who is bending over to pick something off the ground vs. someone in an upright stance. It will be about finding that delicate balance where he is beant over enough to keep the puck away from his opponent, as well as being upright enough to withstand little cro-checks to the back. Essentially he needs to find a way to lean into the contact instead of away from it. Look at Marner for example. He is not a big player, but he anticipates the contact and is able to put himself in a better spot to manage those subtle hacks and wacks. I am sure Nick has been working on this throughout the summer. There is no way that the Marlies/Leafs staff have not pointed this out as being his biggest deficiency. He is on the ice 7-10 times a game. It is so painfully obvious the weakest point of his game.
A little physical maturity and adjustment in his puck protection is the only thing holding him back from the NHL. That said, I recall Naz dealing with very similar things in his early days as a pro. So I am not worried 1 bit. It will come.
I cannot wait to see that shot on a regular basis when he eventually breaks through
zeke
The Dube Abides
- Mar 14, 2005
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Age 18
Nick: OHL 46gms, 98gl/153pt pace (NHL 4gms, 21gl/21pt pace)
Kadri: OHL 70gms, 40gl/116pt pace
Brown: OHL 63gms, 37gl/90pt pace
Age 19
Nick: AHL 21gms, 20gl/63pt pace (NHL 6gms, 0gl/14pt pace)
Kadri: OHL 68gms, 53gl/145pt pace (NHL 1gms, 0gl/0pt pace)
Brown: OHL 82gms, 53gl/146pt pace
Age 20
Nick: ???
Kadri: AHL 44gms, 32gl/76pt pace (NHL 29gms, 9gl/34pt pace)
Brown: AHL 81gms, 22gl/66pt pace
(Yes)
Thats completely ignoring that ohl scoring saw a major spike in offensive output, that the AHL was incredibly watered down this year, and that neither of the other two had the opportunity to play for the marlies at 19
mydnyte
Registered User
- Sep 8, 2004
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i disagree ...that would be 3 shooters on one line, he's better with Matthews and Marner, as he would give Marner a 2nd passing option, and the defense wouldnt be able to focus only on Matthews (like Montreal did with Hyman on the wing)
mydnyte
Registered User
- Sep 8, 2004
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Montreal is a team with limited offensive tools, so Caufield was used in an offensive role, and outside of the offensive zone (where he looked like a real threat), he was really bad.
Robertson is too weak, but, they have a similar skillset ...a great shot/release, we didnt line up Robertson with our best offensive players like Montreal did, so obviously he wont look as threatening.
Robertson is still too weak for a regular shift and if he's not in the top 6, he shouldnt be in the lineup (just like Caufield, pretty useless in his own zone)
Wafflewhipper
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2014
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I’m not counting him out this year like everyone seems to be. Being a top 6 left winger isn’t out of the cards until camp is over.
He has to take a role of being on pucks hard and playing good defensively is the main thing first.
I’m not counting him out at all. He could send Bunting to the third line ideally
Lets hope he can take a top 6 spot. Would be huge for our winger depth
Wafflewhipper
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2014
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A little guy coming in and playing obnoxious is actually covered now. If he thinks he can come in and play for the lady bing he can go play for the Marlies or something. There are players that can look after him on the roster now if he wants to play big. He has to play big or i guess he’s not ready. I’m just hoping everyone comes in ready to get their nose dirty all the games.
That shot will be the icing on the cake for him. Love that kids shot. Needs to learn to get it away quicker like all scorers first coming in to the league is all
Coachcorner
Senor Martinez
- Sep 28, 2017
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But he is not even going to be in our lineup after the camp sire no? He doesnt even have a chance cause we dont need a player like him. A scorer with speed. We got pests for us in gabriel simmonds (bunting and ritchie) who are filling and taking all the spots period. Thats a fact concerning bunting simmonds and ritchie. Also, kämph and some other noobs who are (defensive) specialists will fill ALL the RIGHT spots. The only guy I could see this lil kid competing for a spot is kase. And only if that sucka, a real fool for this gets injured. Again, and he will sire.
Respect to all the tough boys but Nick has a better offensive skillset than anyone you listed (maybe an argument for Kase). Nick probably starts the year in the AHL but could see him in the top 9 by year end. Long term they need cheap scoring which he could provide for at least 3 years
Coachcorner
Senor Martinez
- Sep 28, 2017
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Interesting to see sire if that happenso. If one of our key suckas get injured, Ich understand that fully right now. He cheap, still skating, has the shot, what! Gotta love it. But right now as the beginning like you stated to the whole world, he starting in the ahl. Some human being at here at our boards wrote... nick being like overrated, like maybe being overrated. Has he like taken a step backwards or some weird injury happened? I like some moves mr dubas made this summer. He got us our cheap pests. We ain't have that in a while since tucker and all. Those were our glory dayz. People in toronto will love bunting, ritchie and gabriel. Simmonds is now familiar to us, and he should not be used-a-lot. Some fights, some real ass talk, walk the walk, still win, and get the trophy.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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We'll see how Nick develops and will be interesting what kind of role he's put into to start his full time NHL employment. I find the tricky thing about saying he's a less abrasive and more skilled Gallagher, with a little less Marchand secret sauce is sometimes those really successful small guys are successful because of their unique ingredients and specific character make up.
zeke
The Dube Abides
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Age 18
Robertson (OHL): 98gl/153pt pace ---> NHL 21gl/21pt pace
Marchand (QHL): 52gl/129pt pace
Gallagher (WHL): 54gl/109pt pace
Age 19
Robertson (AHL): 20gl/63pt pace ---> NHL 0gl/14pt pace
Gallagher (WHL): 63gl/119pt pace
Marchand (QHL): 38gl/103pt pace
Age 20
Robertson ????
Marchand (AHL): 22gl/64pt pace
Gallagher (AHL): 23gl/46pt pace ---> NHL: 29gl/50pt pace
Robertson (OHL): 98gl/153pt pace ---> NHL 21gl/21pt pace
Marchand (QHL): 52gl/129pt pace
Gallagher (WHL): 54gl/109pt pace
Age 19
Robertson (AHL): 20gl/63pt pace ---> NHL 0gl/14pt pace
Gallagher (WHL): 63gl/119pt pace
Marchand (QHL): 38gl/103pt pace
Age 20
Robertson ????
Marchand (AHL): 22gl/64pt pace
Gallagher (AHL): 23gl/46pt pace ---> NHL: 29gl/50pt pace
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Only problem with a Marchand comparison is he wasn't a special junior scorer or much of a top six NHL winger until he decided to turn it on at age 28. That development curve is atypical and there was really no prior indication that it would happen.
Dayjobdave
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2010
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I think the kid has a chance to be a real catalyst and difference maker. I think he’s hard pressed to make the leafs this year though. He will have to over achieve or we will have to have a bunch of injuries or washouts
Macallan18
Registered User
- Aug 10, 2015
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How old was Marchand before you actually saw Marchand level playmaking or creative instincts? Not at 20, that's for sure.
I don't think anyone would've predicted Marchand's development curve, probably not even the rat himself. We can only really comment on past performance as an indicator for potential and Robertson has yet to display such capabilities.
At minimum I don't think it's a stretch to say that Robertson is ahead of Marchand or Gallagher going into their age 20 seasons as @zeke highlighted above.
Fogelhund
Registered User
- Sep 15, 2007
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A solid year for the kid in the AHL, learning to play with Men, learning to play a full two way game, and challenging for the goal scoring title in the league... then see from there. There should be no NHL expectations for him at all, let him learn the game, and make progressive steps.
If Nick ends up cracking our lineup I'd like to see him get a healthy opportunity to produce. Being a goal scorer, confidence is key. Burying him on a 3rd or 4th line with offensively deficient players and more of a defensive objective could really play with his head. I understand the logic of making him earn his minutes, but this kid has done everything we could ask out of a prospect. He is a complete animal outside of the rink. His training habits are exactly where they need to be. He will obviously still need to earn his way onto the team, but if he does make the roster I really think he should be in the top 6. He will be the forgotten player on either line, and he can be sheltered by experienced elite talents. Nobody would key in on Nick on Matthews line. Mitch would have 2 elite level shots to distribute to. I really could see that working.
Let Nick make mistakes, allow him to learn at the highest level. I've said the same about Timmy and Rasmus. At some point we have to let these guys learn on the job. The same way we did with Mitch, Auston, Willy, Brown and Hyman. All were rookies in the same year, and they did not disappoint. They made plenty of mistakes that year, but they also grew from it. If I am not mistaken, Mitch played with JVR and Bozie in his rookie campaign. He was sheltered with that veteran presence. He stumbled at times in the season and was demoted down the lineup, only to return later in the year. But the opportunity was there. Mitch earned a crack at the NHL when he made the team, and was given every opportunity to fulfill his projection as a top 6 forward. If we project Nick to be a fixture in the top 6 for years to come, he needs to be playing in that fashion in the NHL. If not put him in the AHL and play the shit out of him. That is just my opinion.
We are missing high end talent on the left side on this team. I really don't think Ritchie is our answer to that TBH.
Could doe something like this:
Robertson - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Ritchie - Spezza - Kase
Bunting - Kampf - Micheyev
Let Nick make mistakes, allow him to learn at the highest level. I've said the same about Timmy and Rasmus. At some point we have to let these guys learn on the job. The same way we did with Mitch, Auston, Willy, Brown and Hyman. All were rookies in the same year, and they did not disappoint. They made plenty of mistakes that year, but they also grew from it. If I am not mistaken, Mitch played with JVR and Bozie in his rookie campaign. He was sheltered with that veteran presence. He stumbled at times in the season and was demoted down the lineup, only to return later in the year. But the opportunity was there. Mitch earned a crack at the NHL when he made the team, and was given every opportunity to fulfill his projection as a top 6 forward. If we project Nick to be a fixture in the top 6 for years to come, he needs to be playing in that fashion in the NHL. If not put him in the AHL and play the shit out of him. That is just my opinion.
We are missing high end talent on the left side on this team. I really don't think Ritchie is our answer to that TBH.
Could doe something like this:
Robertson - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Ritchie - Spezza - Kase
Bunting - Kampf - Micheyev
Gets hit against the boards by big assed D CAUSING injury t0 the upper body injured with Marlies and Leafs huge mistake not playing USA JUNIORS FRAIL GUY who will struggle to stay in lineup
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