It’s a known fact that the New York Rangers have been gradually rebuilding the past few seasons to a more youthful team under the watchful eye of Coach Quinne who has a very experienced background with developing a young team. That being said the Rangers have had to lose some popular household names at Madison square garden to make way for a new wave of players that Quinne believes could see the Rangers as a Playoff contender in the near future.
Name’s that have been moved out include: Jimmy Vessey to the Buffalo Sabres, Kevin Hayes to Winnipeg Jets, Kevin Shattenkirk had his last 2 seasons of his contract brought out, Filip Chytil and Neal Pionk.
Name’s that have come in include: Kaapo Kakko who was the 2nd pick in the 2019 draft, Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox and Nick Ebert.
On October 7th the New York Rangers acquired Nick Ebert and a 4th round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft off of the Ottawa Senators in return for forward Vladislav Namestnikov saving the Rangers valuable cap space of 4.2million to now be able to bring in more young players. One being defenseman Matthew Robertson who has just signed an entry-level contract with the Blueshirts.
New York Rangers clearing out
18-year-old Robertson, the second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers today after lacing up in three games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season.
He has skated in 129 career WHL games over parts of four seasons (2016-17 – 2019-20), all with Edmonton, registering 14 goals and 44 assists for 58 points, along with 74 penalty minutes. Over the last two seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19), Robertson was tied for second among WHL defensemen in their U18 season or younger in goals (14), and he also ranked fourth among WHL defensemen in their U18 season or younger in assists (43) and points (57).
Last season, Robertson tallied 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) and posted a plus-18 rating in 52 games with the Oil Kings. He established WHL career-highs in several categories in 2018-19, including assists, points, and plus/minus rating, and tied his WHL career-high in goals.
The 6-4, 201-pounder tied for second among WHL defensemen in their U18 season or younger in points in 2018-19 (only trailing Bowen Byram). In addition, Robertson ranked third among WHL defensemen in their U18 season or younger in assists and plus/minus rating last season.
He skated in 16 games with the Oil Kings during the 2019 WHL Playoffs, and he recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in those 16 games. Robertson served as an alternate captain with Edmonton in 2018-19, and he was also named an alternate captain for the Oil Kings prior to the start of this season.
The New York Rangers look set to make a move for playoff contention this season. Which means some exciting hockey to come out of Broadway this year.
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