Robertson said "obviously it's a little intimidating being a young guy coming in" but noted a number of Kraken players introduced themselves to make it easier. "You do your best to ask questions and pick their brains," he said.
The Kraken prospect is clearly a quick learner. Upon returning to the Peterborough Petes, he notched a goal and four assists in his first two games, both wins, to earn OHL Player of the Week honors. He hasn't slowed the scoring gusher since, highlighted by being top two in the OHL in game-winning goals (now eight after scoring the game-winner Thursday on the last of his hat-trick goals) and third overall among all OHL player in points. "I think a lot of it's right time, right place," said Robertson about his clutch GWGs. "I'm a player who thrives under pressure. I love being out there in the later parts of games when it's close. I'm pretty cool under pressure, which helps a lot."
Plus, Robertson set a Petes all-time record by scoring two goals in nine seconds during a December victory: "It was a crazy moment for me. I was pretty happy. The first goal was a net-front battle. There was like a minute left in the first period to make it 1-1. I was thinking, 'don't give anything up in the last minute.'"
"I ended up losing the draw [at center ice] and one of their defensemen fumbled it. We got the puck back on the forecheck and [linemate J.R.] Avon got it. I just drove back-door and he passed to me for a one-timer."
Robertson is making his mark in more ways than offensive production in his final junior season. After the 2020-21 OHL season was canceled due to the pandemic and Canadian government health regulations, Robertson went undrafted in his first eligible year in the summer of 2021. There were any number of draft prognosticators and scouts who evaluated Robertson as a potential second-round pick last summer.
The Kraken front office was no doubt happy to see him available in the fourth round. He fits the franchise's criteria of forwards willing and talking pride to play hard in all three zones. Before last season, his Peterborough coach, Rob Wilson, asked Robertson to switch from wing to center. He took to the challenge, becoming a top faceoff center in the ultra-competitive OHL.
"His hockey IQ is super high," said Wilson to the Toronto Star earlier this season. "He's a quick learner. He blocks shots and he gets first touches at both ends of the rink. He's definitely a two-way center."
Robertson, who turns 20 in June, would be eligible to play in the American Hockey League or ECHL next season. But for now, he's focused on his final junior season and the Petes making a run in the postseason. Peterborough is fourth in the OHL Eastern Conference before weekend play with a solid chance to win home-ice advantage for the first round.
Robertson could end up facing North Bay during the playoffs, which might diminish a regular text exchange between the 2022 fourth-rounder and fellow 2022 prospects, defenseman Ty Nelson (third round) and center Kyle Jackson (seventh round), key players for North Bay.
"I think at the next level, I want to be a really good 200-foot player," said Robertson, who emphasized winning a championship is his and team's main objective. "Being one of the top two-way players in the league this year is one of my big goals. I had a good year on faceoffs last year and I've wanted to build on that because it's so valuable to winning [especially in the playoffs]. I'm also working on my game off the rush. I think I'm good in the offensive zone and net-front. I've wanted to create a little more off the rush this year."
