The Rangers recalled defenseman Matthew Robertson from AHL Hartford on Friday, per a team announcement.
New York adds some blueline depth to their roster as they continue their West Coast swing with three games in four nights. Per The Athletic’s Arthur Staple, Robertson comes up as injury insurance for an undisclosed defenseman who’s not 100 percent healthy. He will likely serve as a healthy extra on the road trip, with Zachary Jones drawing in instead if one of the Rangers’ top six defensemen needs to exit the lineup due to injury.
The 22-year-old Robertson has yet to play in an NHL game, but he’s one of the Rangers’ more intriguing defense prospects. He has NHL-ready size at 6-foot-4 and 201 lbs., but his development in the minors has stagnated over the past 18 months. In 32 games with the Wolf Pack this year, Robertson has two goals, 11 assists and 13 points with a -3 rating.
Notably for Robertson, he is in the final season of his entry-level contract. If he can make his way into the lineup for his NHL debut, it could go a long way toward securing some additional compensation on his second major league deal. The 2019 second-round pick is on track to receive a qualifying offer at season’s end and will not be eligible for arbitration.
This is his second recall of the month. He was ferried up for a brief period on Jan. 11, but was sent down before that night’s game against the Blues.