After scratching Nicholas Robertson for Monday's game against the Utah Hockey Club, Leafs head coach Craig Berube explained why and defended his recent play.
Calle Jarnkrok was initially set to be scratched for Monday's game, but a last-minute decision following the morning skate saw the 33-year-old draw in for the 23-year-old instead and onto the Leafs' second line bumping Bobby McMann to the third line.
Berube explained the decision that saw Jarnkrok move to the second line as a more defensive fit given the matchup the line of John Tavares, William Nylander and Jarnkrok would likely face.
When asked about the sudden change, Berube defended Robertson's play, citing that it was purely a lineup decision with an abundance of bodies available.
'Nothing that Robbie did wrong. He's worked hard & he's played some good hockey for us, but I gotta make decisions. They're hard decisions. They're not easy decisions & it's just what I went with tonight.'
Monday night was the first time since January 7th where Robertson was a healthy scratch. While the former second-round pick has just 5 goals in 24 games since January 1st, it has been his defensive play that has impressed Berube and Leaf fans of late and may have prevented him from being traded at the deadline.
To his credit, with a fresh start under Berube, Robertson has done everything he can to adjust to a new play style. It may have taken a little longer than expected, but he is finally playing with a consistency on the defensive side of the puck that had been lacking in his career previously.
Robertson's scratch Monday, should not be a regular thing as the Leafs enter the final stretch of the regular season, but he should see it as an opportunity for learning more away from the puck.
Through 55 games this season, the 23-year-old has tallied 11 goals and 17 points while averaging slightly more than 12 minutes of ice-time per game, almost a minute more than he saw last season under Sheldon Keefe.
