Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube praised Nick Robertson for his impressive performance, scoring five goals in four preseason games, despite uncertainties surrounding his future with the club.
After netting two goals in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, Robertson’s performance puts him in a strong position for the opening night, especially after doubts about his place following a trade request over the summer.
The 23-year-old winger eventually signed a one-year contract and has shown impressive commitment since. After the game, Berube praised him for his excellent play, highlighting not only his offensive contributions but also his solid defensive skills, including his effectiveness in penalty-killing.
Berube said (2:48 onwards):
“He [Robertson] has been great. He has been really good defensively, killing penalties and also producing offensively with goals. The speed is excellent, and he has a great shot. He is using skill and his feet really well. Again, he is responsible defensively, which is great to see.”
He noted that the entire team executed effective “reloads,” which were crucial against a talented opponent. Berube highlighted how Robertson played a key role in tracking back to support the defense and commended them for their efforts.
Maple Leafs shut out Red Wings in preseason
The Maple Leafs traveled to the Little Caesars Arena on Thursday to face the Detroit Red Wings in their second-last preseason matchup.
The Leafs put on a dominating performance on the road by defeating the Red Wings 2-0. Robertson put the Leafs on board through a powerplay goal at 17:54 of the first period.
The second period went goalless, and Robertson tallied his fifth goal of the exhibition schedule at 14:34 of the third period to clinch the win for the visitors.
Goaltender Anthony Srolarz was another standout performer for the Maple Leafs in the matchup. He made 30 saves on the night and was showered with praise by Berube after the game.
Berube said (1:17 onwards):
“He is a big guy in the net and made some really good saves tonight. I thought he fought through traffic tonight and made saves. There were not a lot of rebounds. He kept things quiet around our net.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs will conclude their preseason on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena before gearing for the 2024-25 regular season.
