Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nick Robertson could get his first taste of NHL hockey this summer, as general manager Kyle Dubas announced on Wednesday that the winger will be part of the club’s expanded playoff roster.
The Maple Leafs selected Robertson, 18, in the second round (53rd overall) of last June’s draft and he’s been considered one of the organization’s most dynamic youngsters since. He was a dominant force in the OHL this season, tallying 55 goals and 86 points in 46 games with the Peterborough Petes, and impressed at the world juniors with a pair of goals and a point-per-game performance through five games with Team USA. The California native’s fast-paced, shifty game could see him fit in nicely as a secret weapon with Toronto’s offensive power.
With the NHL’s announcement of its return-to-play plan, 24 teams will resume playing an altered 2019-20 post-season, with each team allowed to bring on extra players — up to 28 skaters and an unlimited number of goaltenders. This means teams around the league will be calling upon both AHL veterans and young prospects like Robertson who might otherwise have had to wait until at least next season to make their NHL debuts.
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