The Toronto Maple Leafs started their 2025-26 season with some last-minute changes and sudden accidents of their squad, so the necessity for depth within the bottom-six grew to become a precedence.
In accordance with TSN’s Darren Dreger, GM Brad Treliving not needs to maneuver on from Nicholas Robertson or Calle Jarnkrok, who had been rumored to be thought-about tradeable.
“The knowledge I had Saturday is that Treliving isn’t purchasing (Nicholas) Robertson or Calle Jarnkrok. He likes the thought of getting that depth,” Dreger said.
Sources like insider David Pagnotta mentioned in September that Robertson, 24, and Jarnkrok, 34, have been thought-about items to release wage cap, however now the main focus has modified on account of what they supply by way of stability and depth.
Not too long ago, Scott Laughton, projected because the 4C, suffered an injury and won’t be obtainable for just a few weeks. Moreover, there have been adjustments in purpose and protection that compelled Berube to recalibrate combos and roles.
How the Maple Leafs will profit from retaining Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok
Robertson got here out nicely from coaching camp, so the entrance workplace’s choice to maintain him on the roster isn’t a surprise. He added velocity, capturing and vitality. Jarnkrok, for his half, offers versatility, with the ability to cowl each wings and middle, and utility on the penalty kill, for the reason that roster is scarce on right-handed gamers.
Holding this kind of low cost and helpful contract within the bottom-six avoids overpaying for replacements, and it provides a higher margin of time for Treliving to seek out his much-desired top-six ahead.
Berube appears to be adjusting his group on the penalty kill, on the lookout for clear exits at five-on-five. Having two gamers who he is aware of nicely to rotate facilitates the project of situational roles for matchups, net-front or bumper on the second power-play unit.
Holding Robertson and Jarnkrok doesn’t imply that the Maple Leafs are closing the doorways to an elite reinforcement within the close to future. They’d solely have to maneuver different items (waivers, AHL, UFA) with out touching these two gamers.
The choice is the fitting name as a result of it maintains stability within the squad. The group wants insurance coverage on the backside of the lineup whereas Laughton recovers and the remainder of the traces settle. Robertson gives “low cost” targets and drive at five-on-five, whereas Jarnkrok is a wild card to plug holes, kill penalties and play wherever he’s requested.
The Maple Leafs are usually not keen to lose video games on account of a scarcity of depth, which in the long run prices greater than marginally saving on the wage cap.
