Maple Leafs Top Prospect Left Off USA World Junior Roster
Team USA has announced their roster for the 2021 World Junior Tournament, and one name not on the list is Toronto Maple Leafs forward, Nick Robertson.
Introducing the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team! 🇺🇸#USAWJC | #WorldJuniors
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 12, 2020
Release: https://t.co/8gcJU0kyXj pic.twitter.com/tdXVe3j2MW
Robertson, who played in the tournament last year, won't be making his way to Edmonton, and he's totally ok with the news. The only way he was going to play in the tournament is if the NHL season was delayed to a February start, and that's not the case. Training camps will open late December, with Leafs camp fully opening on January 3rd. The season appears to be set to begin on January 13th.
As for Robertson, the 19-year-old stayed in Canada after last season and has been doing whatever he can to get himself in the best shape of his life. The Leafs will give Robertson every opportunity to make the top-9 forwards next season and considering he's on a cheap entry-level deal, the cap crunched Leafs need Robertson to stick, to help balance the books.
The natural born goal scorer tore up the OHL, scoring 55 goals in 46 games in 2019-20, and if he makes the Leafs, can expect to see some power-play time on the second unit with new Leaf, Joe Thornton. Imagine making the NHL and your first full year in the league, your team gives you 'Jumbo Joe' to take passes from to one-time on the power-play.
The Leafs are setting Robertson up for success, and this includes not playing in the World Juniors. The Leafs prefer him to watch like the rest of us.
Photo credit: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
Over the past 20 years, only three players have scored over a goal per game in a u19 OHL season
— PikleSam (@PikleSam) December 12, 2020
Nick Robertson 1.196g/gp
John Tavares 1.075g/gp
Patrick Kane 1.069g/gp
To say he is not a game breaking prospect is just kinda ridiculous.
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