Matthew Robertson returning to Rangers after signing 2-year contract
For the second time this week, the New York Rangers re-signed one of their own restricted free agents, when they agreed to terms with defenseman Matthew Robertson on Friday. Two days earlier, popular forward Matt Rempe re-upped on a two-year, $1.95 million deal.
Robertson also landed a two-year deal. Though the Rangers didn’t disclose financial terms, it’s been reported that the first-year is a two-way deal and the second is one-way at the League minimum. Robertson will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights when this contract expires in 2027.
A year ago at this time, Robertson was sweating out whether he’d even receive a qualifying offer from the Rangers after he played three seasons with Hartford of the American Hockey League and not a single game in the NHL. The 2019 second-round pick did receive a one-year contract last summer, despite the disappointing start to his professional career.
The Rangers were rewarded for showing faith in Robertson when he put together a solid season at Hartford this past season. The 24-year-old led Wolf Pack defensemen with 23 assists and 24 points, each a career high, and was promoted to the Rangers at the end of the regular season.
Robertson was placed on the top pair alongside Adam Fox for season-ending wins against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning and nearly scored a goal on his first NHL shift down in South Florida. He and Fox logged 30:43 TOI together in those two games and were on ice for three Rangers goals and one for the opposition, though their expected goals share was 34.42 percent, per Natural Stat Trick.
“For me, just getting those two opportunities, two games at the end of the season was just huge for me and my family, and I just use that confidence heading into the offseason,” Robertson said at breakup day.
At worst, Robertson provides organizational depth at the defense position. At best, the 6-foot-4, 211-pounder is in the mix this season for a spot on the left side, especially if the Rangers move on from disgruntled restricted free agent Zac Jones.
Rangers still need to sign, make decisions on several RFAs, including K’Andre Miller
The Rangers have now re-signed three of their RFAs this offseason — Robertson, Rempe, and forward Juuso Parssinen — each to two-year contracts. These signings haven’t impacted New York’s salary cap much at all, but remain important pieces of business in filling out the NHL roster. The Rangers have roughly $13.95 million in cap space this offseason, thanks in part to saving $6.5 million annually by trading Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks last week.
Rumors are swirling that the Rangers may trade K’Andre Miller, an RFA with arbitration rights. That could impact Robertson since Miller is a staple on the left side of the Rangers defense, though one would imagine New York would bring in a top-four left-shot defender if the 25-year-old is shipped out.
Other restricted free agents due new deals are forward Will Cuylle, who’s coming off a 20-goal season, towering forward Adam Edstrom, forward Arthur Kaliyev, and Jones. Goalie Dylan Garand and forwards Brendan Brisson, Jake Leschyshyn and Lucas Edmonds are notable RFAs who played last season with Hartford.
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