There was a time when Nick Robertson’s failure to find the scoresheet would have bugged the energetic Maple Leafs winger.
Not so much now, though the 23-year-old still will exhale a bit once he scores his first goal or records his first point of the 2024-25 regular season.
A meeting with assistant coach Marc Savard on Thursday reminded Robertson that other parts of his game are falling into place.
“The little things are there, whereas maybe a few years ago, I was just looking to score,” Robertson said. “It’s not like I’m making blatant turnovers and causing problems, so it’s getting there.
“Looking through the games, just haven’t had luck or the Grade-A chances compared to preseason. It’s just how it goes. You don’t want to get in your own head. Keep shooting the puck, keep doing the right things, and it’ll open up.”
Robertson scored five goals in the preseason. He’s the lone Leafs forward who has played in all four regular-season games and not recorded a point.
Through work, he has drawn three penalties, tied for most among Leafs with captain Auston Matthews, and has been charged with only one giveaway.
And there should be defensive improvements that come in playing, at least right now, on a line with the responsible John Tavares and Pontus Holmberg.
“I’ve learned as I’ve matured to take confidence in the little things in my game,” Robertson said. “If the coach is putting you out there with five minutes left in the period, three minutes left, last minute, that’s a sign that you’re doing some things right.
“No one’s perfect. I have to clean up a few things. You score, you get even more confident.”
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