Young sniper Nick Robertson among those cut by the Leafs on Tuesday

The Toronto Maple Leafs have trimmed their training camp roster on Tuesday, following a 3-1 preseason win against the Ottawa Senators on Monday - and one particular name on that list of cuts may sting a bit more than the others for Leafs Nation.

20-year-old Nick Robertson entered training camp as a name to watch, and while he did play well and did not look out of place, Maple Leafs brass must have wanted to have seen more out of the energetic winger, as they have assigned Robertson, along with forwards Mikhail Abramov, Jack Kopacka and Jeremy McKenna along with defenders Teemu Kivihalme, Joseph Duszak and Noel Hoefenmayer to the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Tuesday.

This isn't all bad for Robertson, as this likely confirms what many have been suggesting - that the Leafs do not view Robertson as a bottom-six player.

Sending the young sniper back to the AHL for additional seasoning will mean big minutes in all situations and an opportunity for Robertson to show that he can be a legitimate scoring threat in the top six, but he will also have to show improved play away from the puck as well. Starting the season in the minors will provide Robertson with that opportunity, away from the pressure of the NHL.

Robertson has shown time and time again that his motivation isn't swayed by a demotion and has communicated to the media on multiple occasions that he knows he has what it takes to be an impact player at the NHL level. Everything until then are just bumps in the road.

With an abundance of established NHLers vying for a very limited number of spots on the left side of the ice, it was likely that Robertson was always going to back to the AHL to start the season, barring an absolutely sensational showing in camp and the preseason.

I would expect that Robertson's name is on a very short list of players on the call-up list should an injury arise or should anyone on the left side prove incapable of fulfilling their duties.

Just a little more patience is needed for Robertson, as his time will come - likely at some point this season.

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