Another year, another Toronto Maple Leafs training camp surrounded by uncertainty for Nick Robertson. After a 15-goal campaign in 2024-25 despite a trade request over the summer that was eventually rescinded, Robertson found himself on the bench for the majority of the playoffs and went into this past offseason with an arbitration hearing ahead of him.
The two sides eventually settled on a one-year extension worth $1.825 million, but once again, training camp looms with an abundance of forwards competing for jobs on the Maple Leafs, and once again, it will be in Robertson’s hands whether he makes the lineup or not.
Speaking to reporters following the team’s first on-ice session of training camp, Robertson said that the main theme of his offseason training was battles.
“I did a lot of battling stuff in August, really focusing on using my body as a strength and getting low, we did a lot of 1-on-1 over the summer.” Robertson said.
If there’s one area Robertson did improve in significantly in 2024-25, it was the physical aspect of the game. He was inconsistent offensively, but in contrast to the previous year under Sheldon Keefe, he was actually being a pest and getting in the heads of players on the opposing team. Improving in those areas and trying to improve the intangibles will help him stay in the lineup this season, and if he can tighten up his consistency and find the back of the net every couple of games, he’ll be a valuable player the Leafs can use.
In addition to improving his strength over the summer, he recognizes that the mental side of the game is just as important.
“I think what I really work on is being confident coming into the season,” Robertson said. “I’ve had good camps, working on my strengths, but little things like wall pickups I need to be better at.”
Robertson and the rest of the Maple Leafs will continue putting in work ahead of the team’s opening preseason tilt when they head to Ottawa and visit the Senators on Sunday.
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