Toronto Maple Leafs Cut Top Prospect

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a bunch of cuts to their training camp roster as they inch closer to opening night. Among the players heading down to the American Hockey League (AHL) was Leafs top prospect Nick Robertson.

The 20-year-old couldn't find his groove in training camp and did not stand out at all during the preseason. He works tremendously hard and even turned some heads during a blue vs white game where he ended up laying a decent body check on Leafs superstar Mitch Marner. Marner wasn't a big fan meanwhile head coach Sheldon Keefe loved it.

Robertson now heads back down to the minors where he hopes to build off his 16 points in 21 games last season. If he wants to make the jump Robertson is going to need to score goals so he can land in a top-six role that he's accustomed too. He did appear in six games in 2020-21 with the big club and only managed one assist. Robertson knows he needs to light up the score sheet if he wants to make an impression.

Robertson met with the media prior to being cut and had this to say about a possible demotion:

There are ups and downs in everyone's career and whatever happens, happens. What keeps me going is trying to get better, take it with a grain of salt. I'm going to be an NHL player one day, it's just a matter of when

With skills like this, it won't be long Leafs Nation... 

PHoto credit:  John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports