New Jersey Devils: 5 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect To Target

Nick Robertson

Some consider Nick Robertson as the best prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ system, including The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, but it seems the Leafs are more willing to move him than they are to move defensive prospect Rasmus Sandin. The Devils would obviously rather have the defenseman, but Robertson is not a bad prospect to add at all.

Robertson is a player who can flat-out beat the goalie. The Devils desperately need young scorers. They have Alexander Holtz, Tyce Thompson, and Graeme Clarke as pure goal scorers in the system. Holtz is obviously the one with the highest upside, and Robertson would be ready to play right alongside him.

Robertson would actually be a really good fit for the Lindy Ruff system. The Devils would probably give him a shot to play right off the bat, and his relentless style would be something Ruff loves to see. He’s got a motor for days, and he will not stop for anything. That will cause turnovers and board wins, which in this Devils system usually lead to goals and assists.

The one issue for the Devils is his size. He’s 5’9 on a team that already has Jack Hughes (5’11), Jesper Bratt (5’10), and Ty Smith (5’11) as major parts of the future. It’s not as dire as some people make it seem, but having the toughest guy on the top six also be the smallest is never a great look. It could also have the Devils chasing size in future drafts, which is an awful spot to be in.