Nick Robertson put on notice days before Leafs’ camp!

It has never been an easy road for Nick Robertson in Toronto, and a fresh start of the season does not seem to guarantee him anything. In a recent interview with The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was frank when asked about Robertson’s role heading into training camp.

“There’s a lot of competition at camp,” Berube said. “I’ll leave it at that. There’s a lot of competition at camp, which is great. I think it makes for a competitive camp and that’s what we want, because that’s gonna get us more prepared for the regular season.”

Pressed further, Berube didn’t offer clarity on where Robertson fits:

“I don’t have the answer to that right now. There’s jobs available and again, it’s a competition. You gotta come in and play your ass off and earn a spot.”

That blunt assessment leaves Robertson in familiar territory: fighting for his place on the roster. Drafted in the second round in 2019, the winger has flashed scoring ability but has struggled with injuries and consistency. Last season, he played 56 games for the Maple Leafs, posting 14 goals and 27 points. These are respectable numbers for a depth forward, but not enough to cement a permanent role.

And apparently to impress coach Berube.

Now, with Berube emphasizing competition across the board, Robertson’s margin for error appears slim. Toronto’s camp is expected to feature several hungry forwards battling for roster spots, especially with the additions of Nicolas Roy , Matias Maccelli , Nicolas Roy and Michael Pezzetta ; on top of Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan hungry for more, and Berube made it clear he won’t hand out ice time based on potential alone.

For Robertson, the message is simple: this is a prove-it year. Either he forces the coaching staff’s hand with strong camp performances, or he risks being overtaken by other options in a crowded lineup.

In a market as demanding as Toronto, that kind of uncertainty is never comfortable. Robertson will need to rise to the challenge.