Matthew Robertson’s Rangers future lacks clarity

NHL

By means of Mollie Walker

The Rangers’ organizational depth on defense has seen natural movement over the years, with young players like Braden Schneider and Zac Jones making their way to the NHL roster.

Matthew Robertson, however, was stuck in the minors.

After the Rangers selected him in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft (49th overall), Robertson played two more seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

He then moved to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, for the past two seasons.

One by one, Robertson’s peers jumped him on the depth chart.

One by one, the Rangers brought in new blueliners to bridge the drop-off between the NHL and AHL rosters.

One by one, seasons passed without an NHL opportunity for Robertson.

Robertson is now in the final year of his entry-level contract, and, unless the 22-year-old defender has a major turnaround, his future at Rangers could be in jeopardy.

“For me, it’s just going to be day by day, one day at a time,” Robertson said after the first day of rookie camp on Wednesday. “Not looking forward, not living in the past. This is it [about] getting better every day. Just staying confident, working on the little things after practice to help my confidence, which is building every day. Not trying to be too hard on myself. “

The Rangers won’t have to look to their prospect pool to fill spots in their top-6 defense, especially after the offseason signing of free agent Erik Gustaffson, as well as the re-signing of restricted free agent K’Andre Miller and Jones. .

The left side is currently stacked, with Ryan Lindgren, Miller, Gustafsson and Jones, but Robertson hasn’t put himself in the conversation for NHL opportunities.

Robertson seemed to have trouble with turnovers and consistent play in his own zone last season before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the entirety of the Wolf Pack’s playoff run.

Had Hartford advanced to the conference finals, Robertson would have been ready to play, but the club was swept by Hershey.

Despite his 6-foot-3, 211-pound frame, Robertson is not known as a physical player.

According to those who have watched Robertson closely, he is sometimes too equal.

Robertson, who on Wednesday described himself as a defensive-minded defenseman who likes to jump on the rush, has 34 points (six goals and 28 assists) in 122 AHL games.

“Little things in my head, just trying to stay calm,” Robertson said when asked how he stays positive. “That’s a big part of me, when I play confidently, I play my best game. I think last year was a good stepping stone to know how I should play and know when “I’ll play. Just find my game.”

In the NHL, prospects can come together all of a sudden.

There is no rhyme or reason to it, sometimes something just clicks.

Robertson is sure to be able to find his footing and figure it out.

Considering that a global pandemic hit in the middle of his prime developmental years, and he was limited to just 22 WHL games in 2020-21, Robertson may need a year to recover. -o.

The belief is that Robertson has the right attitude to make a change.

The Rangers are waiting.

This is a make-or-break season for Robertson