PPP: 5.
Nick Robertson
High, high ceiling; tricky to gauge floor. He certainly has the motor and awareness for a bottom six energy role, but is he going to be able to withstand the rigours of the NHL with his frame? He has already been beset with injuries (circumstantial ones) that has delayed his development. His skillset begs for a top-6 offensive role, and there hasn't been a more difficult time in the Leafs franchise to break into such a spot. Fortunately, he plays the position with the lowest threshold of entry (LW), so... there's a chance, if not this season then after Kerfoot and potentially Bunting move on.
Things that can help push Robertson over the top in my estimation:
* judicious application of that motor: knowing when to wait and when to give'r gas will let him apply the most force at the right time. Flying at 100% all the time is a recipe for flaming out mid-season. Dr. Wickenheiser has commented on this previously and it looks like it's starting to sink in.
* skating stride: he's very hunched over, like he's riding a motorcycle; not sure if you can change this at this stage of the game. Ideally, you want a quiet upper body that is more upright (see Nylander, Engvall), while the legs extend through the glide efficiently.
* leverage his playmaking: until his breakout season in D+1, Robertson was known more for his passing; in the NHL, he's not going to be the go-to shooter on any of the top-6 lines. As a smaller guy, there's value in being someone who can disrupt from the boards and feed linemates in the slot. As defenses shift to cover the higher profile threats, it will open up space in return for Robertson to pew pew some pucks.
