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Nick Robertson’s powerful luck with accidents isn’t letting up.
The Toronto Marlies winger — and one of many Maple Leafs’ prime prospects — is anticipated to be out of motion for at least 10 weeks after he suffered a non-displaced fracture of his proper fibula on Sunday towards Manitoba.
Robertson fell awkwardly to the ice as he fought for the puck in the course of the Marlies’ 5-0 loss versus the Moose at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Marlies tweeted that Robertson won’t require surgical procedure.
Not solely is the extended absence a blow for Robertson, it doubtlessly takes a bit out of the Leafs’ depth. Had Robertson skated to a great begin with the Marlies, he would have put himself ready to be recalled by the Leafs within the occasion of accidents with the NHL membership.
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“I really feel for Nick,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “It’s powerful luck for him. He’s coming off a great camp and I do know he was excited to have a great season. I watched the primary sport of the Marlies, and I assumed he seemed good.
“It’s very unlucky. A man that works as onerous as he does and is dedicated as he’s, it’s powerful to see that occur. However I additionally know due to how onerous he works and the dedication that he has that, if anyone’s going to work their manner by way of that and bounce again, he’s going to do it. These items occur and you need to discover your manner by way of it.”
The setback for the 20-year-old Robertson comes after he endured a number of accidents in the course of the shortened 2020-21 season, when he suffered a knee harm, handled a lingering groin-abdominal problem and suffered a concussion.
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Consequently, Robertson by no means was capable of get fully on monitor. In six video games with the Leafs, Robertson had one help, and in 21 video games with the Marlies, he had 5 targets and 11 assists.
In two video games this season, Robertson, the Leafs’ second-round decide in 2019 (53rd general), has two assists.
RETURN OF HUTCH
Keefe confirmed that goaltender Michael Hutchinson, again with the Leafs following the groin harm to backup Petr Mrazek, will get a begin in Toronto’s back-to-back set this week.
The Leafs are at residence to face the San Jose Sharks on Friday earlier than taking up the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Saturday to begin a three-game journey that features stops in Carolina and Chicago.
“Each time you get an opportunity to return up — it’s an unlucky state of affairs, Petr being damage — it’s enjoyable being up right here, it’s enjoyable being across the guys,” Hutchinson stated. “I’m excited to proceed shifting ahead with the fellows and simply doing my half to assist everybody get higher and win as many video games as potential.”
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Because it seems, Hutchinson has a reference to College of Toronto goaltender Alex Bishop, who was signed to a one-day beginner tryout contract on Saturday to again up Jack Campbell towards Ottawa. Wage-cap restrictions tied the Leafs’ arms for a day, and Hutchinson then was recalled on an emergency foundation from the Marlies.
“We skated with the identical goalie coach (Jamie McGuire) rising up in Toronto and I’ve skated with him earlier than,” Hutchinson stated, referring to Bishop. “Everybody’s aim is to make the NHL, but it surely doesn’t occur for most individuals. It’s good for him to get a extremely cool life expertise with all of the onerous work he put in to his personal sport.”
Hutchinson made positive to ship Bishop, by way of McGuire, a message of congratulations.
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Campbell, among the many busiest goalies within the NHL by way of the primary week of the common season, bought many of the follow off to relaxation, departing after preliminary drills.
“It’s merely managing his workload,” Keefe stated. “It was going to be a heavy day for goaltenders by way of the variety of photographs and kind of photographs that had been going to be coming, so we didn’t assume it was essential for him to undergo that. It’s vital, managing your goaltenders.”
With Hutchinson at one finish, the opposite internet was occupied by former OHL goalie Brendan Bonello.
LOOSE LEAFS
By NHL video games Monday night time, solely Philipp Grubauer of the enlargement Seattle Kraken had performed extra minutes than Campbell. But 22 goalies had allowed extra targets than Campbell, who has stopped 82 of 86 photographs. “He’s a hell of a goalie, he’s a hell of a competitor on the market and he pushes himself to the restrict each night time,” Mitch Marner stated of Campbell … How rapidly has Auston Matthews climbed the Leafs’ franchise checklist for targets? Matthews’ subsequent aim shall be his 2 hundredth, which is able to tie him with Charlie Conacher for thirteenth in Leafs historical past. So long as he can keep wholesome, Matthews gained’t have an issue breaking into the Leafs’ prime 10 this season. In tenth is Ted Kennedy, who scored 230 targets in a Toronto uniform … By 4 video games, John Tavares has gained 57 of his 82 faceoffs (69.5%). David Kampf, repeatedly lauded by Keefe for his smarts, has gained 41 of 63 (65.1%).
