With a freshly signed one-year deal, Nick Robertson is ready to prove to the Maple Leafs he can be relied upon for secondary scoring. The former 2019 second-round pick has had to grind his way through injuries and inconsistent playing time throughout his Leafs’ tenure and may finally be entering a season where he’s given consistent minutes, and more specifically among the top-two lines.

Robertson reportedly could be on the move despite the new contract, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports. At the time of this filing, Robertson remains on the Maple Leafs and will be afforded every opportunity to crack the roster.

Before we look ahead to the 2024-25 campaign, let’s circle back to some highlights and lowlights throughout Robertson’s five seasons with the organization. Arriving on the playoff scene in 2019-20, Robertson became the first 18-year-old Maple Leaf to score a playoff goal in over 70 years.

Robertson was in tough the following season to make the big club out of training camp and unfortunately for him, it was his horrible luck with injuries that became the storyline. The shifty winger went on to play just six NHL games the following season, meanwhile posted 16 points in 21 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

In 2021-22, it was the same ol’ story.. Robertson played just 28 games for the Marlies in ’21-22 after suffering another major injury and dressed in 10 games with the Leafs, scoring once. Fast forward to 2022-23, a year where Robertson was expected to take a serious jump up the Maple Leafs’ lineup, only for a shoulder injury to creep into the picture after he was laid out by Los Angeles Kings defenceman Matt Roy, and fell awkwardly into the boards.

His season was over and after some rehab work, both Robertson and the Maple Leafs decided it was best to have shoulder surgery and try to impress head coach Sheldon Keefe during the 2023-24 training camp.

Did the high expectations layered with the injury woes effect Robertson at all? It certainly appeared so last season at camp. Robertson turned some heads with his comments to The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke last September.

“I know my name isn’t what it used to be. I don’t give a f—“, said Robertson. “In the long run, I know this is an important year for me. I didn’t want to miss training camp. It was a tough decision for me. It really was. But it was something I had to be mature about.”

What came next likely pissed off Robertson a tremendous amount. After doing whatever he could to prepare for the season, Robertson scored once during five preseason games, and was sent down to the Marlies to start the 23-24 season. Toronto kept 18-year-old Fraser Minten on its NHL roster and gave him a look to start the campaign. The touch-and-go relationship with head coach Sheldon Keefe was once again on the front burner.

After a 5-4-2 start to the year, Robertson was recalled from the Marlies and made his season debut Nov.6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored twice in his first four games, recording four points. While he may have started strong, it’s hard to say Robertson had a positive experience last season. Keefe never fully trusted him and it showed. Robertson led the Maple Leafs’ forwards with shifts off the rush and was last in starting shifts in the defensive zone. His playing time fluctuated a tremendous amount come Stanley Cup Playoff time, Keefe hardly called his name. Robertson averaged only 9:47 of ice-time against the Boston Bruins, with no points to show for it.

Heading into this offseason, Robertson was a restricted free agent. Chris Johnston of The Athletic reported July 1 that he wanted out and wasn’t interested in re-signing in Toronto. Even with a new coach in Craig Berube. One who is known for being intense, demanding defensively, but also a great communicator who lets his offensive players showcase their creativity. Treliving and the team worked throughout the summer to find a trade partner, and reportedly kept Robertson in the loop about the trade talks, however as we know now, no offer was presented to the Leafs GM that he wanted to sign off on. So the Leafs circled back, Berube included, and were able to get Robertson and his agent to agree to terms on a one-year, $875,000 deal.

Berube wants the team to be tough to play against and outwork every opponent, regardless if it’s playoff time or a random January night in Utah. However, the Leafs’ coach is fair with stating he knows that not every player is going to drive others through the boards, but it’s more so about being tough on pucks and in proper defensive position to support teammates.

Robertson has a prime opportunity in front of him to secure a role among the top three lines. He can’t have long dry stretches of limited offense, considering he’s not going to lead the Leafs in shutting down his opponents. It’s on the scoresheet where he needs to excel and showcase to Berube his elite wrist shot, while ensuring to limit turnovers at the blueline and being easily pushed off pucks.

At 5-foot-9, Robertson knows how to tailor his game to be successful, and with a new one-year contract in his back pocket, and a new voice behind the bench, ’24-25 could be a turning point in his young career.

The biggest question mark about Robertson is his ability to stay healthy, so whatever strength he needs to put on, or whatever training he needs to do to ensure he’s available should have been taken care of this summer. Yes, there’s been some trust issues with previous coaches, but if you look back at his professional career, he hasn’t played more than 65 games of hockey in a season.

Robertson should be aiming to suit up at least 75 times this season and if he does so, it means he’s established a strong relationship with his new coach and is likely seeing top-six minutes and second power-play time. Should the minutes be consistent, look for Robertson to sniff 25 goals. He gets himself into shooting lanes, his offensive IQ is off the charts and last season he showed tremendous chemistry with Max Domi, who could certainly be someone he plays a ton of minutes with this season.

After his one-year deal expires next summer, Robertson will once again be a restricted free agent and he’ll have arbitration rights. If he wins a job out of camp and is a reliable secondary-scoring threat behind the Maple Leafs’ big guns, there could very well be a contract extension coming.

For now, Robertson needs to get through training camp and preseason healthy, he needs to hit the scoresheet on a regular basis and he needs to prove to Berube and the rest of the Leafs brass that he’s made adjustments defensively. It’s a huge season ahead and it’s quickly turning into a make-or-break year in Toronto.