Article content material
Maybe Nick Robertson had an concept of what was coming.
Commercial
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
Article content material
When the 20-year-old winger met with a number of members of the media early on Tuesday afternoon at Scotiabank Enviornment, the passion he normally carries wasn’t obvious.
A number of hours later, Robertson was amongst a gaggle of seven gamers assigned by the Maple Leafs to the Toronto Marlies.
For now, Robertson’s objective of creating an impression with the Leafs is on maintain.
Robertson had been engaged in a troublesome battle for a spot on the left wing, and knew {that a} ticket to the Marlies was a definite risk.
“There’s downs in everybody’s profession, and no matter occurs, occurs,” Robertson stated. “What retains going is making an attempt to get higher and (perceive) that I’m going to be a full-time NHL participant sooner or later, it’s only a matter of when. What I can take away is to get higher each day and maintain doing what I’m doing, which is working onerous.
Commercial
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
Article content material
“I didn’t rating (in pre-season video games), however my confidence has constructed and I believe I obtained higher all through the camp. It’s a brief time frame. I want I might have performed in 10 pre-season video games to see how I really feel, however that’s the best way it’s.”
On no account ought to Robertson’s demotion be seen as a setback. He has a superb alternative to play so much with the Marlies and proceed to develop. In 21 video games with the Marlies final season, Robertson had 5 targets and 11 assists. In six video games with the Leafs, Robertson didn’t had one help. On the entire, he wasn’t in a position to get utterly on observe as he handled accidents.
Additionally despatched to the Marlies have been defencemen Joe Duszak, Teemu Kivihalme and Noel Hoefenmayer, and forwards Mikhail Abramov, Jeremy McKenna and Jack Kopacka.
Commercial
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
Article content material
POINTS NORTH
With the pre-season winding down, the Leafs will head to Gravenhurst on Wednesday for a three-day work retreat.
“The Leafs for the final variety of years by camps have gone away for the early portion, and we didn’t try this this season,” coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “However there was a chance with this hole we have now after (Tuesday’s) sport, main as much as Saturday’s sport, the place it was an opportunity for us to get away.
“I believe it’s necessary for lots of causes. We’ve got quite a few new gamers, so an opportunity to convey them to a unique surroundings the place they’re collectively is an opportunity for them to develop as a group. We’re going to get some good work in whereas we’re there, off the ice and on the ice.
“It’s good to get a change of surroundings and skate in a unique rink.”
Commercial
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
Article content material
A golf outing was deliberate for Wednesday, with practices scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
“Will probably be enjoyable to get on the market (on the golf course) with among the guys, particularly among the new guys that we’re nonetheless attending to know,” defenceman Justin Holl stated. “Will probably be an excellent group bonding expertise. You don’t get a number of alternatives to do that stuff in the course of the yr as a result of we’re so busy.”
As soon as the Leafs return to Toronto, all that can stay on the pre-season calendar is a house date on Saturday with the Ottawa Senators, 4 days earlier than the Montreal Canadiens are again on the town for the 2021-22 regular-season opener.
SUPPORT FOR HO-SANG
Put Mitch Marner within the group pulling for Josh Ho-Sang to stay within the group.
Commercial
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
Article content material
In camp on an expert tryout, Ho-Sang has particularly stood out on the facility play, registering 4 assists within the pre-season.
“I’ve performed towards Josh my entire life,” Marner stated. “What I’ve seen him do is nothing actually too shocking to me. He has an excellent mindset of creativity and discovering performs all through the ice, energy play or not.
“His work ethic is one thing that has impressed everybody. I believe everybody realizes the potential he has.”
We’ll know within the coming days whether or not Ho-Sang has finished sufficient to safe a contract. In that case, beginning with the Marlies and dealing his option to the Leafs might be within the playing cards for the 25-year-old ahead.
LOOSE LEAFS
The Leafs have positioned goaltender Michael Hutchinson on waivers, and can maintain their fingers crossed that their third-stringer isn’t claimed. Three years have handed since goalies Curtis McElhinney (Carolina) and Calvin Pickard (Philadelphia) have been plucked from Toronto on the identical day … Auston Matthews remained in a crimson sweater throughout follow with the non-game group, centring Robertson and Wayne Simmonds … Defenceman Jake Muzzin, coping with a lower-body challenge, didn’t practise on Tuesday. Travis Dermott, who didn’t play on Monday night time in Ottawa due to a calf ailment, practised … The Marlies have opened their camp on the Ford Efficiency Centre … Keefe stated it wasn’t true that the Leafs nixed a post-game shootout in Ottawa as a result of some Toronto gamers have been sick. “That wasn’t the case,” Keefe stated. “We had our gamers chosen. The referees appear to be coming over every sport and asking the coaches if they need a shootout. (Ottawa coach) D.J. (Smith) threw his palms up and didn’t actually care. They came visiting to me and I stated I didn’t care, particularly with us taking part in a again to again. It ended up that the referees roughly made the decision. Both means, I used to be good with it.”
tkoshan@postmedia.com
