Maples Leafs forward Nick Robertson’s breakout game is only the beginning

A drenched suit and an angry power play coach typically make for a colorful hockey anecdote, nothing more. But maybe it was a microcosm of something bigger for Nick Robertson.

A few weeks back, during the 2022-23 preseason, Robertson was going through his typical pre-game routine. He would douse himself with water, splashing his neck, to wake himself up. But his aim was off. He squirted Toronto Maple Leafs' power play coach Spencer Carbery, who was standing behind him on the bench and soaked him. Oops.

Before Thursday night’s regular-season game against the Dallas Stars, Robertson’s first in the NHL this season, the situation played out differently. Robertson made sure no one was in the line of fire when he went about his ritual. Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe noticed and joked it was the greatest development he’d seen in Robertson’s game yet.

The tiny attention to detail suggested Robertson was focused, and aware of his surroundings, showing an improved ability to block out the nerves and the noise. And, boom, the Leafs’ No. 1 forward prospect delivered by far his best, most significant performance at the NHL level. He scored twice in Toronto’s 3-2 home victory, both being go-ahead goals, the second winning the game in overtime. Both showcased his pure sniper prowess. The first came on a quick turn-and-release in the slot, and the second was a one-timer, buried off a feed from Auston Matthews. In Game 17 of his career, Robertson doubled his output from the first 16, in which he scored once.

But what stood out most wasn’t just the highlight-friendly nature of the goals. They sure were pretty, but that wasn’t a surprise. As Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov surmised after Thursday’s game, Robertson’s blistering shots hurt to stop in practice. He has been a deadly scorer at every juncture of his career to date. He buried 55 goals in 46 games in his last year of major junior, and he scored 16 times in 28 AHL games last season. No, what popped most from Robertson were his conviction, confidence, and commitment to all 200 feet. He created the overtime winner with a dogged, desperate backcheck in which he almost got dangled for a goal in Toronto’s net by Stars captain Jamie Benn. Robertson fought to recover the puck and got it moving in the other direction, resulting in the winning play.

“(Benn) tried to toe drag, and I originally missed and I was like, ‘Oh boy, this will be embarrassing,’ ” Robertson said. “And then fortunately I got a stick on it and a good backcheck back there. And then a three-on-one, and I’m going out there with the best player and (Morgan Rielly), one of the best defensemen in the league. So it’s kind of easy to put that one in.”

“Easy” wouldn’t have described anything about Robertson’s journey to NHL relevance before last night. He made the Leafs look brilliant after dominating the OHL in 2019-20, the season after they’d drafted him in the second round, but his career was a series of fits and starts after that. He saw time with the Leafs in the 2019-20 playoff bubble but missed most of 2020-21 with a knee injury suffered in his first game of the season and he broke his leg early in 2021-22. And in his limited NHL looks, the moment seemed too much for him. While his older brother Jason blossomed into stardom with the Stars, Nick eased back from his latest injury in the AHL last season. The Leafs just wanted him to play, get into a rhythm, commit to a two-way game and, most importantly, simplify.

Robertson was merely a Black Ace for the Leafs playoff roster by spring 2022. After an offseason in which he studied his game meticulously on video, he found a way to play a tidier, more decisive game. He sizzled as much as any prospect in the league during the 2022-23 pre-season. Yet he was dealt another blow as a salary-cap casualty to open the year. He didn’t let it discourage him too much and, after Jake Muzzin’s trip to the IR this week opened the cap space, Robertson made the most of his opportunity in his first game of the season.

“A week ago if someone said I’d get the overtime winner, I’d say you’re crazy,” Robertson said. “So you never know what can happen in this industry.

“It’s been ups and downs for sure. To get sent down, given the cap space, was tough to grasp. But to get a night like this makes up for it. I don’t want to just have a night. I want to be consistent. I want to play well and help the team.”

If he continues to simplify the way he did Thursday, Robertson might help his NHL club significantly. His skill level isn’t in question, so it wasn’t a huge surprise to see him get a look in a top-six role, manning the left wing on Toronto’s second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Keefe indicated after the game he knew Robertson was “feeling it” and had to talk himself out of deploying him earlier in the 3-on-3 overtime.

“I think two goals stand for themselves, but he’s competitive on the puck, forechecking, he won a lot of 50/50 battles out there,” said Leafs right winger Mitch Marner. “It’s great to watch. Two massive goals for us. Just an all-around great night for 89.”

There’s no questioning the type of ceiling Robertson brings. And a cap-crunched team like the Leafs badly needs a home-grown asset to make meaningful contributions at an entry-level AAV. Whether Robertson is ready to become that player full-time depends on staying healthy – and continuing to block out the noise.

How well did he do the latter Thursday? Consider the distraction of playing against your brother, who happens to be one of the best players in the NHL. Nick noted a little crosscheck from Jason but for the most part, disassociated from the sibling rivalry.

“I feel like I’m less ‘Oh, my brother,’ now,” Nick said. “I don’t have time to worry about who’s on the ice. I have to play my best, shut out the noise and just play.”

That sure sounds like someone focused and ready to make a difference in Toronto.