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Robertson invited to USA camp for WJC, has “The Goat” lost his spot?

December 9, 2019, 6:18 PM ET [66 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have three prospects that have been invited by their respective countries for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic later this month.

2019 third-rounder Mikko Kokkonen was named to Team Finland’s initial group last week. It is expected that Team Sweden will select defenseman Rasmus Sandin to their roster (since the 19-year-old was one of their best performers at the 2019 WJC in Vancouver and Victoria) if the Leafs make him available for the tournament, but to this point Toronto GM Kyle Dubas has not made it known whether he will give the go-ahead for the 2018 top pick.

Sandin suffered an elbow injury in last year’s quarterfinals and missed over a month of the Marlies season, so that could be a factor in Toronto’s decision.



On Monday, Team USA announced their invitees and 2019 top pick Nick Robertson was one of the 15 forwards selected. The 53rd overall pick impressed at the World Junior Summer Showcase last summer, and showed off his offensive skills for the Leafs at the Traverse City Rookie Tournament in September.

Robertson missed over a month of the OHL season with a broken finger, but returned to action with the Peterborough Petes last week and has four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in three games.



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The Leafs practiced in Vancouver on Monday in preparation for the Western Canada portion of their four-game road trip against the Canucks on Tuesday. There are no indications of potential lineup changes or alterations to the line combos and defensive pairings, and among the skaters participating fully was injured winger Trevor Moore, who is not eligible to come off LTIR until later this week.

Frederik Gauthier skated with Moore and Dmytro Timashov, which offers a hint that the big forward will be a healthy scratch for his third game in a row on Tuesday. Gauthier started in all 23 games under Mike Babcock and the first six games under Sheldon Keefe before being scratched for the first time against Colorado last Wednesday.

Veteran Jason Spezza has produced consistently since Keefe took over (five points in six games), which is equal to the 24-year-old offensive output for the entire season, but the presence of rookie Pierre Engvall may be another roadblock to Gauthier getting back into the lineup.

The 23-year-old has been effective as a fourth line winger and as part of the Leafs improved penalty killing in recent games, using his long reach and speed to be more dangerous and disruptive. With the Marlies last season, Engvall was pressed into service at center after a string of injuries and Keefe kept him up the middle through the Calder Cup Playoffs.

On Monday, Engvall skated in between Nic Petan and Spezza. Gauthier could see action in the future depending on the Leafs injury situation or for Spezza’s load management, but it is possible that “The Goat’s” days as a lineup regular are done.

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