Was reading Scott Wheeler's mid-season ranking on the Athletic (
Wheeler: Midseason ranking for the 2019 NHL draft’s top 62...)and stumbled upon this:
28. Nicholas Robertson: C/LW, Peterborough Petes, 5-foot-9
NICK ROBERTSON PLAYS HOCKEY IN CAPS LOCK. HE SKATES REALLY FAST. HE HITS REALLY HARD. HE CAN RIP THE CURL-AND-DRAG RELEASE OFF THE RUSH. IF IT DOESN’T GO IN, HE’S FOLLOWING IT TO THE TOP OF THE CREASE. IF THAT DOESN’T WORK, HE’LL CHASE YOU DOWN, HE’LL FIND YOU AND HE’LL KILL YOU. HE’S BASICALLY LIAM NEESON. HE’LL PROBABLY HURT HIMSELF SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY BUT HE’LL MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN OR DIE TRYING.
All seriousness: If Robertson’s ridiculous compete level and the way he attacks in waves doesn’t make him a second-line forward, it’ll make him a third-line one.
Anyone watch him play? I know he's small but damn that sounds like a fun player to watch. Those that have watched him, would he be worth it with our second rounder if he's still available?
Absolutely love Robertson, not sure I buy a lot of that "alpha male Jersey shore" scouting report like him "hitting hard". However, there is so much to like about his game.
It's kind of funny, because his brother is Stars 2nd round selection Jason Robertson and both are completely different players. Jason has some skating issues, but has a much better frame to protect the puck and has one of the most lethal shots not in the NHL. Nicholas is much smaller, but is a much more smooth and fluid skater, doesn't have as good of a shot, much better playmaking ability, and much better hockey IQ (also is an elusive stickhandler). Size will be an issue when it comes to becoming a centre long term, but his puck distribution and decisions are elite centre quality.
I like him enough that I would absolute draft him around the 17th to 23rd mark and I suggest that a team might realistically like him in that spot too. He's been rising ever since he's come back from injury and showcasing why he deserves to be a late 1st rounder. As Wheeler said though, he also has a no stop motor, but I would like to see his play away from the puck be better considering he isn't a dumb player at any standard. Thinking of a player for comparison, I wasn't sure I wanted to use him because he isn't as tricky or dynamic as Gaudreau is, but there is a lot of Johnny in his game. If not, a better comparison might be Mikael Granlund - I suggest he has around the same talent level as well, but I must admit I might overvaluing him because I like him a lot.
There’s a Finnish kid in the 2022 draft named Brad Lambert, haha. He’s expected to go really high, too.
Seems like the Finns are naming their children very American names so they get drafted higher... Speaking of, did you know Kaapo Kakko is an old, old American name? It means “Good Boy.”
Lambert's father is actually Canadian - I believe he played in Liiga, retired in the country, works for a Liiga team, and married a Finnish woman. Not sure what country Lambert considers himself, but he was born in Finland and has lived in Finland his whole life and he is one hell of a player. However, he has Canadian citizenship since his father is Canadian, he chose Finland in a non-IIHF sanctioned event so there could still be a chance he chooses Canada in the long run.
Thomson has Scottish ancestry roots as a surname name, but if I recall correctly his great-something-grandfather was French.