Maple Leafs Sign Nick Robertson to Three-Year ELC

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday morning that forward Nick Robertson, who was drafted by the team with the 53rd overall pick in 2019, has inked a three-year entry-level deal.

Robertson, a native of Arcadia, California, stands at just 5-foot-9 and 161 lbs. But his shifty, offensive-minded playing style has helped him massively thrive at the OHL level for two seasons already — and although he didn’t turn 18 until September 11th, he’s already looking like he could be one of the best players to come out of this year’s second round.

The Leafs didn’t draft in the first round this season, sending their 2019 first-rounder to the Los Angeles Kings in the deal that brought Jake Muzzin to the GTA. That made Robertson their first pick of the summer, leaving the Leafs idle on the first day of the draft for the first time since 2010.

Second-round picks are, at best, a toss-up for NHL success, but Robertson is already looking like he could be one of the more successful players picked this summer — even though he’s one of the youngest players who were eligible this time around. He’s known for a relentless forecheck, incredibly quick feet, and a great trash-talking game; he projects to be a great offensive talent at the next level, and he still has two more years of junior eligibility to go to develop his game as it is.

Leafs fans got to see Robertson shine at both the World Junior Summer Showcase this year for Team USA and at Traverse City as one of the top Leafs prospects earlier this month, but there’s should be even more chances to check out his game as the year goes on.

In addition to his upcoming season with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, Robertson seems like a promising lock for Team USA at the World Juniors this winter — and if his 55 points in 54 games for Peterborough this past year as a 17-year-old are any indication, he should be lighting up the scoreboard at every opportunity.