TORONTO — In terms of hockey contracts, Mathew Robson has a ways to go to beat midget hockey pal Connor McDavid’s $100 million US deal.

Robson doesn’t yet have an NHL team, but hopes that will one day be the Maple Leafs and the goaltender could once again face McDavid, as well as Sam Bennett, the Strome brothers and other childhoods friends from the GTHL now thriving in The Show.

“I played with McDavid on the Marlboroughs for many years,” Robson said Friday at the MasterCard Centre. “Great kid, shy guy and he still scores goals now like he did then. To be able to practice with him was definitely big for my development. Lots of people knock me that I don’t get enough shots in a game, but I got to be with those guys every day. We had some classic ball hockey games in summer. Our high school hockey team was terrible (Robson and his powerful peers were not allowed on it), but we could’ve made a team out of just Grade 9’s and won.”

Right now, Robson is one of the invites to Toronto’s development camp, 36 free agents joining 21 draft picks, and he’s looking for pointers to take to the University of Minnesota next season.

“Every kid who grows up in the GTHL is primed for the OHL, college or professional,” Robson said. “Kids go through media training at 14 now. So coming up through that area, I always knew what I wanted to do. It’s a dream come true to be at a camp like this.”

Robson was caught in an OHL/NCAA eligibility flap that steered him to play for the Penticton Vees in the B.C. junior league last year. But he did extremely well, took some college business courses and earned a rare scholarship for a Canadian to Minnesota. He hopes to be graduating in three years.

“I have to get my degree at some point — even if I leave (for the NHL), my Mom wants me to go back. You also want to have success at a big school and get your name out there for a pro career.”

He’d be willing to work hard for that chance, even if he couldn’t make McDavid’s nine figures.

“Give me a few years,” Robson laughed. “Eventually, I’ll aim for Carey Price (money).”

TALL TALES

Player Development director Scott Pellerin joked of getting neck strain as he looked up at the group of drafted Leaf defencemen who made up one of Friday’s practice groups. This year’s No. 1 pick Timothy Liljegren was among the smallest, eclipsed by Eemeli Rasanan (6-feet-7), Fedor Gordeev (6-6) and Nicolas Mattinen (6-4) as they worked out.

Rasanen, Toronto’s second round pick, is a hulking presence on the Kingston Frotenacs blue line.

“I’ve always loved to be physical,” the Finn said. “I’ve always played defence because I’m too big for forward.”

He didn’t disagree with the scouting reports of his mean streak, but added “I’m really not that mean” off the ice.

The marked change in Liljegren since the draft two weeks ago was the disappearance of his long locks, shorn Tuesday in anticipation of Leaf team rules. But his landing spot in October is anywhere from back home to Sweden to the minors, to be determined by the autumn training camp.

“They want me to be on one team to develop,” Liljegren said. “I’m not sure if that’s here, but one more year and then Id like to try the NHL.”

CAMP SPLITSVILLE

Pellerin is supervising a different sort of camp this year, with an increase up to 57 players and based in Toronto, not out of town. New draft picks and older prospects are in one group and the majority free agents in another, so varying levels of instruction and evaluation can be applied.

“Free agents in the past maybe haven’t had that opportunity to show what they can do here,” Pellerin said of adding players to the AHL Marlies and ECHL Orlando. “With all the new draft picks, we haven’t had a chance to be on the ice with them. Some guys, being where they’re drafted, we’re a little more excited about, but we’ll treat everyone the same. They’ll go through the same curriculum (such as on-ice work, lectures on nutrition, conditioning and social media awareness).”

After an introductory team dinner Thursday where some Leaf “culture” was explained, the players were to attend Friday’s Blue Jay game. Beginning Saturday, groups will start playing each other in scrimmage games through Wednesday.

“We want them to improve and have some takeaways from this camp,” said Pellerin, emphasizing this is not really a tryout environment. “We’re taking time to teach and correct, but it is also a chance for us to take notes (on individual play).”

LOOSE LEAFS

Former Leaf defenceman Stephane Robidas, whose contract is now off the books, continues in his role here as a development coach ... Two other ex-Leafs are among seven guest coaches; Drake Berehowsky (Orlando) and Luca Caputi (Guelph Storm), along with Rachel Doerrie, a female staffer with the Sudbury Wolves ... Robson’s older sister Sarah was co-captain of Brown University’s women’s team with Kaitlyn Keon, grand daughter of the Leafs’ four-time Cup winner. Another Leaf Hall of Famer, George Armstrong, turned 87 this week ... Former Marlie head coach and assistant Gord Dineen has taken an assistant’s job with Rochester.

lhornby@postmedia.com