SUNRISE, Fla. — To place Matthew Robertson’s anticipated NHL debut Monday evening in perspective, all it takes is one have a look at the Rangers draft class the 24-year-old was part of.
Of the eight alternatives the group made in 2019, two may have been with the Rangers all of this season and one other was by means of Dec. 18.
That will be the best of their picks that 12 months, Kaapo Kakko at No. 2 total, who began and completed his six-year New York tenure earlier than Robertson even cracked the lineup.
Zac Jones, drafted after Robertson (forty ninth total) within the third spherical, has been out and in of the Rangers protection the previous 5 seasons.
Even Adam Edstrom, who was a sixth-rounder taken at No. 161, made his NHL debut final 12 months and possibly would’ve loved his first full 82-game marketing campaign if not for the season-ending lower-body damage he sustained on Feb 1.
“You have got your doubts,” the defenseman stated earlier than taking his rookie lap at Amerant Financial institution Area on Monday evening forward of the Rangers’ eventual 5-3 win over the Panthers. “However, I imply, you simply received to maintain grinding out the method. Take it day-to-day and simply attempt to get higher every day. That’s form of the thought course of I’ve carried out, is simply day-to-day, attempt to get higher and hopefully play it out [Monday].”
The Rangers’ plan has naturally shifted to deal with the long run amid their elimination from playoff rivalry following Saturday’s loss to the Hurricanes in Raleigh.
Not solely did Robertson get his first official look in a Rangers uniform whereas skating subsequent to No. 1 defenseman Adam Fox, however Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann drew again within the lineup, as properly.
Perreault had been a wholesome scratch the earlier three video games, whereas Othmann joined him the final two.
It was a peculiar determination given the truth that the Rangers’ probabilities at making the playoff have been all however unimaginable at these occasions.
It did deliver Brett Berard again into the lineup, and deservedly so.
However there was actually a strategy to have all the kids play. Berard was a wholesome scratch as soon as once more Monday evening.
“Clearly, everybody needs to play,” Perreault stated Sunday earlier than logging one shot on objective, one hit and one and one block in 16:01 of ice time towards Florida. “However, you realize, it must be earned. Simply able to go, every time I am going again in, I’ll be prepared.”
After discovering out the information earlier than Sunday’s skate, Robertson stated his pleasure stage was excessive and that he felt like this second was “a very long time coming.”
Whereas he’s taken warmups and practiced with the crew a handful of occasions, the left-handed blueliner received his first motion in a recreation Monday evening.
There have been a mixture of feelings for Robertson, however he stated he deliberate to deal with it like every other recreation.
He famous that he was happy by his efficiency this season down in Hartford, the place he has primarily performed in a top-four function.
Robertson can also be set to develop into a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on the conclusion of this season.
Roberton’s mother and father took two flights from Edmonton to be there Monday evening.
As for Perreault, the Boston School product who turned professional simply 15 days in the past stated he plans to deal with maintaining with the tempo of play, making performs and never getting beat.
“They’ve been nice,” he stated of the communication with the teaching employees. “Simply form of making an attempt to information me in each means. Clearly, I had [assistant coach Dan] Muse on the [U.S. National Team Development] Program and he’s been there for me. At all times grabbing me. Each little factor he sees, he’s grabbing me and making an attempt to assist me out.”
