Player Development: Nick Robertson & Carl Lewis’s '85% Rule'
Are we trying too hard? Maximize performance by relaxing
Nick Robertson is a middle-of-the-lineup player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. For years, his inability to break through to the next level has made him a classic “make-or-break” type of player.
His story as a youth player is one of a player who put in full effort and burned the boats behind him. That served him well in youth and junior hockey, where he could easily jump on loose pucks and force mistakes.
The jump to professional hockey, and particularly the jump to the NHL, has been a challenge for Robertson. This is a level where loose pucks rarely exist, and simply adding a little pressure doesn’t force a turnover. The game is played differently and requires more cunning behavior.
The NHL is unlike any league in the world, where spacing and timing are critical elements that grow in their importance. This is why some of the smartest and most successful NHL players found the NHL to be easier than other leagues.
Nick Robertson’s Development Path
“It’s easier to tame a tiger than put stripes on a cat.”
We all know ‘that player’ who only goes 100 mph. They skip over deficiencies and hide them. Eventually, that approach catches up to them and limits their ceiling.
One of the first things the Maple Leafs’ development staff brought up to Robertson once he was drafted was to relax. This was in the sense that trying so hard all the time was actually hurting his performance and limiting his ability to have good spacing and timing. The development path was to pick his spots while maintaining his composure, allowing the game to come to him, more mental and less physical. Work smarter, not harder.
Robertson’s junior highlights are littered with poor spacing and bulldogging the play. His supreme assertiveness and 100% intensity simply overwhelmed opponents. There was a reason he was a second round pick rather than a first-rounder despite his high production. His playstyle didn’t quite yet translate to where he was headed.
Carl Lewis’s 85% Rule
Carl Lewis is one of the all-time great sprinters. He became known for his 85% rule. The idea is that instead of applying maximum effort, allow yourself to remain loose. This approach improves awareness, presence, and frees up power—all the qualities we often associate with success. And the 85% rule can help in life, too.
100% intensity tends to turn into not thinking, turns into chasing the puck, and skating into poor positions.
85% intensity tends to allow excess mental capacity that can be applied to better performance. If fully tense, opportunities are missed, or only poor conditions are allowed.
To his credit, Robertson has relaxed his off-puck game and found more success with great spacing and timing while mixing with his great power. Let’s take a look at his 2-goal game vs Chicago on February 23, 2025
Goal #1 - Robertson starts narrow on the forecheck but peels toward the far wall in case of a rim. As the puck battle unfolds, he funnels back toward the middle slowly and receives a backside pass for a one-time shot.
Goal #2 - Robertson stays in a good defensive posture as the Maple Leafs attempt to get the puck out. Once he reads that the Maple Leafs are getting the puck out, he darts past Chicago #8. He sprints into open space in a controlled manner and pumps the brakes in the slot to time the puck’s arrival in the slot.
If Robertson continues, he is likely to be a solid piece in the Maple Leafs’ lineup for a long time. His developmental path is clear and unfolding nicely as he grows and matures… in life, as a spiritual person, and as a hockey player. I have great belief in Robertson’s future. His development path is a great lesson for those players who struggle to go anything but 100 mph all the time.
Further Reading
How To Score More Goals: Go Where The Goals Are Scored, But Tactfully
Player & Coach Development: Don't Let Early Success Ruin Your Future