Your brow might furrow in confusion to find out Robertson hasn't always been making teams, signing contracts, and leading the leaderboard. Curious of the development behind such an athlete, Robertson was petitioned to share advice he would have offered to his younger self, at a time when he might have needed it most. To his teenage self, the 23-yeard-old says, "Trust the people around you, like your family, and work hard."
Robertson recalled being overlooked and cut from rosters. "I wasn't the fastest. I never made a team. I would always have to go try out for a team. When I was 12, I got cut from a team. I didn't play a lot. I got cut from another team and had to try out for a team that wasn't that great because I just needed a team to play."
During this time of uncertainty Robertson learned the value of leaning on your inner circle, especially those who unconditionally cheer you on. "At 12 it's hard because you're 12, you don't know any better so that's why I said you've got to trust the people around you, and that's what I did," he said. "Thankfully, I would say that because of my mom and dad. They really pushed me. That age 12, 13, 14 I would've fallen off because I didn't have that hunger or drive yet. Once I hit 14, 15 and started realizing 'You can do this. You can work hard. You have a goal, and you can go get it.'"
So much so the NHL
nominated Robertson
to join in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, securing him a spot on the roster for the event on Saturday, Feb. 4 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
"You kind of get used to it," coach DeBoer said. "You almost have to sit and think about it after, about how special it is what you're witnessing. It's unbelievable. He's making it look easy. And it's one of the hardest things there is to do, to score in this league, at this level."