"Healthy Scratch" Nick Robertson Scores Two on Crosby's Wing

There is something fun about watching Nick Robertson score goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs made a terrible mistake. But Robertson seemed like one of those players who was always one chance away from showing what he could do. But over his seasons with the Maple Leafs, he was often healthy-scratched and watched from the press box. Now he's in Pittsburgh, playing alongside Sidney Crosby, go figure. And in his first regular-season game, he scored twice in a 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Of course, one game is one game. One of his goals bounced in off a goaltender's skate. But even that’s sort of ironic. Sort of like fate telling him to watch and listen, because his luck has changed. Neither goal was exactly a vintage Robertson snipe. But there it was on the scoreboard: two goals for a player the Leafs decided they could live without. As I say, he’s got to wake up this morning thinking that maybe things have changed for him.

Maybe Robertson Just Needed Someone to Believe in Him.

Robertson's Toronto career always felt a little unfinished. He could score. Everybody knew that. The problem was finding him a place. He wasn't trusted enough to play regularly with Auston Matthews or in a top-six role. And the Maple Leafs didn't really have a bottom-six role that seemed designed for a player whose biggest asset was scoring.

His best Toronto season was last year, when he scored 16 goals and 32 points while averaging just 12:40 of ice time. That's not exactly a giant runway for a young offensive player. Bottom-six minutes for a potential 20-goal scorer on a team that needed goals.

Then Pittsburgh acquired him from Toronto for a fourth-round pick and immediately put him on Sidney Crosby's wing. Suddenly, he has a coach who gives him the ultimate vote of confidence. And he hits it out of the park by scoring twice.

Maybe that's the whole story. Maybe a player doesn't always need a different coach or a different system. Sometimes he just needs a different organization willing to give him a little more rope. A big part of me will always be happy to see Robertson get that opportunity. Even if it’s with another team.

Even After Last Night, Would Robertson Actually Fit These Maple Leafs?

Here's where it gets complicated. The Maple Leafs have changed. John Chayka has built a very different bottom six, with players such as Colton Sissons, Nick Paul, Brandon Duhaime, and Teddy Blueger bringing size, responsibility, and a more defined identity. Easton Cowan is also pushing his way into the conversation, while Jack Roslovic and Gavin McKenna give Toronto other options.

So where exactly would Robertson fit? That's the question I keep coming back to. The Maple Leafs didn't simply trade Robertson because they had given up on his ability to score. They traded him because they decided the roster needed different things. And after watching the first couple of games, it's hard to argue the new group doesn’t feel different.

Still, watching Robertson score twice in Pittsburgh is going to make some Maple Leafs fans wonder.

The Maple Leafs Weren’t the Right Fit for Robertson.

Maybe Robertson wasn't quite good enough for the Maple Leafs. Maybe the Leafs weren't quite the right team for Robertson. And maybe both things can be true. Sometimes a player and a team simply don't fit. That doesn't mean the player can't succeed somewhere else.

So, yes, it was more than a little fun watching Nick Robertson score twice in a Penguins uniform. I couldn’t help but watch the replays. And after rooting for him for so long, it's pretty easy to smile. Maybe the young player finally found his opportunity. Given the background, don’t you wonder how long Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas waited to grab him?

So, is there any chance at all Robertson could be in the Rocket Richard goal-scoring race? Right now, he’s ahead of Auston Matthews two goals to none. Hey, it’s October. We’re allowed to have a little fun.