Undrafted Charlie Robertson will join Mack Guzda and Ludovic Waeber as the third goaltender the Florida Panthers will bring to the four-team 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase in Estero this weekend.
The lanky 18-year-old, who stands 6’2″ and catches with his left hand, will be the only member of the Florida squad who wasn’t drafted or already under an entry-level contract to the Panthers, or signed to an AHL contract (like Riley Bezeau, Skyler Brind’Amour, Wilmer Skoog and Jake Wise) by the Charlotte Checkers.
Prior to being selected in the seventh round (130th overall) of the 2021 OHL draft by the North Bay Battalion, Robertson spent two years in the London Jr. Knights U16 program. After that, he played one season at Ridley College, a prep school in St. Catharines, Ontario being joining North Bay.
During his first season of major junior, he went 12-6-1, posted three shutouts and recorded a 3.17 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 21 appearances with the Battalion. He was named OHL Rookie of the Month in March, recording a 5-0 record with a 1.79 goals-against average and .942 save percentage, and two shutouts. Robertson was the lone member of the Battalion to participate in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in February.
EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide had this to say about the young netminder:
Robertson’s not afraid to pull off a bold move when the timing is right. He reads plays well and is right more often than not when he makes an aggressive movement. He is good at reading when he has time to take more depth on a shooter that is bearing down. He’s above average on sharp-angle plays by rarely being caught flat along the goal line. Robertson has an excellent hinge to stay on angle, and is very situationally aware.
Going into the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Robertson was ranked 13th out of 32 North American goaltenders and second among OHL draft-eligible goalies behind Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds. While Day was taken by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round, Robertson’s strong second half wasn’t enough to get him selected.
A good showing at the rookie tournament will allow him to build momentum going into his second season with North Bay and could result in hearing his name called at the 2024 event.