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As eye-opening as the goal might have been, Robertson is bound to be on the outside looking in once the roster is set. The 19-year-old winger is taking his immediate future in stride, and no one could convince us it won’t be long before Keefe gives him a look in a game.
Robertson demonstrated last August in the qualifying round against Columbus that he belongs in the NHL.
“I always find ways to motivate myself,” Robertson said. “Every day is a day where I can learn from others and as to where I stand with the roster, I know that no matter what, I have to keep working hard and that’s what I will continue to do.”
The Leafs kept Robertson in Toronto rather than send him to Edmonton to play for the United States in the world junior hockey championship.
Does Robertson regret not having the chance to play in the world junior, especially after the U.S. beat Canada for the gold medal?
“It would have been nice,” Robertson said. “I was really glad to see them win. As far as regrets, we thought the safest way to do it was to stay here, but fortunately they won and congratulations to them.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Among the many crucial elements for the Leafs will be the quickness with which Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie find chemistry as the team’s top defence pair. “The one thing that I noticed with him was his breakout passes and the way he’s able to use the middle of the ice,” Rielly said. “There were a couple of times (in the game) where he was able to use me and our forwards. He’s good at going back for pucks, he’s a good skater, makes a good first pass. We’re just going to try to build and get better as time goes on.” … Curious to see what happens if Alex Kerfoot (leg) is not able to go against Montreal. Pierre Engvall played in Kerfoot’s spot on the third line between Ilya Mikheyev and Zach Hyman on Saturday, and Keefe wasn’t singing Engvall’s praises afterward. “I expect better from Pierre,” Keefe said. “Got to re-direct him toward the other end of the ice.” Engvall scored, and Keefe noted that “we might be coming up, if not past, the one-year anniversary of his last goal.” Close. After Jan. 6 last season, Engvall scored once, and it was on Feb. 22 against non-NHL netminder David Ayres, filling in for Carolina … Rielly’s smarts make him a good shootout choice if others continue to struggle … The Leafs had the day off on Sunday.
