Can Nick Robertson force his way into the Maple Leafs playoff lineup?

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TORONTO — Matthew Knies was locked into one of the best games of his NHL career. But he couldn’t help muttering words of astonishment to himself from the bench at what another Maple Leafs winger just pulled off.

“You can’t teach it,” Knies said of Nick Robertson freezing Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins and firing a goal five-hole. It was Robertson’s second goal of the night following a three-game stint in the press box. “There’s not many players that shoot it five-hole like that. I’ve never seen that. I try to ask (Robertson) how to do it, but you saw me try to give five-hole and it didn’t work. He has something special.”

Merzlikins shot his head back in bewilderment after the goal. Like Knies, he likely didn’t think Robertson was going five-hole.

“It’s a sneaky one,” Robertson said of his shot.

NICK ROBERTSON 🚨🚨

THE COMEBACK KID STRIKES TWICE! pic.twitter.com/zj408UHYnS

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 6, 2025

All roads in the Robertson situation still lead to disbelief.

Robertson’s two goals make 14 on the season. He’s seventh in Leafs goal scoring. It’s difficult to imagine any forward in that position being in jeopardy of not playing in the playoffs.

But after a late-season stay in the press box that suggested playoff games wouldn’t happen, that’s still where we find ourselves with Robertson following a Leafs 5-0 win.

It’s here, it’s here!! pic.twitter.com/8JsPycTmDI

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 6, 2025

As has often been the story through his Leafs career, Robertson is still earning the trust of his head coach. While he’s stayed healthy, answering a lingering question, Robertson has had an up-and-down season. Effective, smart play is sometimes followed by needless penalties that suck the life out of the Leafs’ team game. Drive and hustle can often be matched with games in which he fails to put a stamp on things.

Above all, Robertson has done what the likes of Max Domi, Pontus Holmberg and other secondary forwards have not done: put the biscuit in the basket with one of the better shots in Toronto.

“I think (Robertson) has just been a little unlucky this year. But I feel like as soon as he got the puck on his stick today, I think almost everyone in the crowd was like, ‘This is going in.’ He just has that goal-scoring ability,” Knies said.

Six games remain in the regular season. The Leafs are moving closer to winning the Atlantic Division, making a first-round series against the first Eastern Conference wild-card team more likely.

After scoring two goals against the Blue Jackets, will Robertson be in that series?

A few questions remain around the Leafs’ playoff lineup. The Robertson question remains at the top of that list.

David Kämpf is out with an injury. And while he’s only missed one game, there hasn’t been a peep from Leafs head coach Craig Berube to suggest Kämpf’s absence will be short-term. That injury allowed Robertson to draw back in. Yet on Robertson’s heels is Max Pacioretty, who appears likely to return from injury in the playoffs.

Pacioretty has scored just five goals in 37 games this season. That’s what makes Robertson’s two goals on Saturday night so vital in the 23-year-old’s fight to make himself a no-doubter for the Leafs’ playoff opener.

Robertson has now scored four goals and two assists this season in games after being scratched.

“It gives me even more of that hunger to be effective,” Robertson said, “and to try and make the most of any opportunity I’m given.”

Robertson’s propensity to break games wide open with his shot was front and centre against the Blue Jackets. There’s always been energy in his game. But he’s added a little more tenacity, a little more physicality to his arsenal this season. Those are directives straight from Berube that Robertson has been hell-bent on implementing. His game isn’t built solely on picking up the puck, barreling down the wing and firing off a shot the way it was early in his career. Robertson wants to overcome his smallish frame and be a pest and create offence from that pesky energy. For decent stretches this season, he has fulfilled that role and, in his view, “disrupted” the opposition.

goals are one thing

this is another pic.twitter.com/KSGBAo7kbr

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 6, 2025

And as he did against the Blue Jackets, he has fulfilled the need for secondary scoring. For a Leafs team that scored just six goals over their final four playoff games last season, you’d think Robertson’s goal-scoring ability would be valued.

Maybe if Kämpf’s injury absence is lengthy enough, the memory of Robertson’s two goals will be fresh enough for Berube to include Robertson in the playoffs.

“(Robertson) is doing the little things right, too. I think his execution is getting good, and if he keeps bearing down like that, and keeps creating chances, I think he’s going to help us a lot in the playoffs,” Knies said.

Then again, maybe not.

“Nick just has to manage the puck more than anything,” Berube said pointedly of Robertson’s game after the win. “Be simple with it. Get pucks out. Get pucks in.”

Midway through the third period, Robertson drove into the offensive zone with the puck. Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson, all 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds of him, promptly — and easily — threw Robertson into the boards. Johnson separated Robertson from the puck and separated Robertson from his first-ever NHL hat trick.

thankfully Robertson got up from this hit

could’ve been way worse pic.twitter.com/joqoH5QyJg

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 6, 2025

That’s the kind of muscle Robertson will face in the playoffs. And plays like that are likely part of what’s driving Berube’s concerns with Robertson.

“When (Robertson) has the opportunity, he uses his speed very well and capitalizes on some chances that he gets,” Berube said. “It’s just about being defensively responsible and managing the puck.”

It won’t be an easy decision for the entire organization on what to do with Robertson.

In a blowout game, Berube still only doled out 10:09 of ice time to Robertson, the lowest of any Leaf. And Robertson’s two goals came against a team that wasn’t exactly the picture of staunch defending in its own zone. Nor were they the ugly, net-front goals that Berube goes out of his way to laud whenever they’re scored.

“You want to make an impact on the game, and obviously scoring a couple does that,” Robertson said.

Let’s not forget that Robertson went goalless in six playoff games against the Boston Bruins last year. He was scratched in Game 7.

Robertson’s only other postseason games came way back in 2020. He burst into the qualifying round against the Blue Jackets straight from the OHL and scored in Game 3.

Back then, it was easy to be enticed by the possibility of what Robertson could become in Toronto. Yet the runway for Robertson’s development into a playoff-ready NHL player is now shorter than ever.

In a perfect world for Robertson, the astonishment and bewilderment Knies had at Robertson’s game would be enough to push Robertson into the playoffs. You can’t say Robertson isn’t using every ounce of effort and skill to get into the conversation.

But Berube might not be as easily swayed. Especially as there’s more pressure than ever around this team to go deep in the playoffs.

And so right now, Robertson might only have six games to prove he’s that player.

“(Robertson) has great speed. He can score goals. He can shoot,” Berube said. “He has played pretty good hockey for us this year. It’s not like he hasn’t.”

(Photo: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)

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