TSN: Pierre LeBrun on Nick Robertson is still hoping for a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs but things are quiet there. LeBrun also touches on other unsigned RFAs.
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LeBrun: “I called Nick Robertson…”
Brian Hayes: “Okay,”
LeBrun: “… I think you’d be happy with that.”
Hayes: “Let’s start there. So, what do you have? What’s the latest on Nick Robertson?”
LeBrun: “The latest is that, he was told that he would still like to change the address. But that, it was slow to proceed in that file. You know, you’ve got a very strong agent in Pat Brisson as well, but scouting a few different people involved today, you know, you know, training at home and waiting for a decision.
But, but the process certainly did not proceed as quickly, I think, as the camp would have liked. So we’ll see where that goes.
Jeff O’Neill: “What do you expect Pierre? Like, I’m not like, what are the Leafs going to say, you have to tighten up, and you have to wait for this? Like, how long is this, you’re going to report to camp? Like, what, how, where, how far are you willing to go?
LeBrun: “Yeah, it’s hard to say right now. And this time of year, O-dog. There are, you know, in fact, if you look, a lot of unregistered RFA, there are still a lot of them.
You know, Detroit still has two big stars, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider working together in Germany with Dallas Eakins. So that tells you that maybe we are here now. But there’s a couple of guys, Cole Perfetti, Dawson Mercer, a lot of RFA’s that aren’t signed, and that’s because it’s early.
I mean the puck doesn’t really drop for another month. And, you know, deadlines tend to encourage signing this month. But I always warn people that a lot of this comes down to the phone, and that includes the Nicklas Roberson situation.
There is no guarantee that he actually moves, I mean, he doesn’t have much power in that situation.
Jamie McLennan: “No, there’s not a lot of potential. But we talked about it yesterday in Pierre, now, here’s a guy where the left side isn’t very focused in the Leafs organization. I mean, he’s got players in front of him, but you know, it’s not like he’s got 20-year-old vets or 20-year-old doctors 15, and (Matthew) Knies is ahead of him.
Bobby McCann is a McMann boy. God, why am I asking for forgiveness. Two days in a row. But I did not respect. I’m sorry.
O’Neill: “Jared McCann.
McLellan: “I know.”
Hayes: “Bobby McMann.
McLellan: “Bobby McMahon had a great season last year. There were injuries. But, you know, these guys aren’t 10-year-old vets.
So for me, Nick Robertson, this is great for him to try and do something, and maybe a chance with a new coach, and maybe a thin left side to really make some noise this year. Like, is that on the table?
You know, there’s, do you, do you just want a change of scenery and there’s nothing, nothing can be done between, you know, the two camps?
LeBrun: “Yeah, I don’t know that there’s nothing that can be done. You, you know, you say Noodles, the most important thing there – training change. A new beginning by Craig Berube. I think that will have to play a role here if he ends up signing.
And, you know, listen, we’ve seen players in the offseason elsewhere ask for a change of location, and then end up signing. Martin Necas is a prime example.
The man wasted enough air talking about his trade request going into the offseason a few months ago, and ended up signing a two-year deal with Carolina to move on, because it didn’t happen.
I mean, you know, if you, if you’re an RFA, there’s only so much you can do. You know too so we’ll see where this goes. But again, just checking with Robertson’s people, the status quo is up to his highest wish, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
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