Rangers prospects that need to impress at Rookie Camp
Opening day of New York Rangers rookie camp starts with 24 prospects hitting the ice at the MSG Training Center in Tarryrown this afternoon. However, three of these players must really stand out if they have any hopes of suiting up for the Blueshirts at Madison Square Garden someday.
Matthew Robertson, Bobby Trivigno, and Karl Henriksson are all entering the final year of their entry-level contracts.
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Rangers prospects that need to impress
Bobby Trivigno
Trivigno, 24, signed as a college free agent on April 1, 2022 after a successful NCAA career where he won the National Championship in 2021. During his final year at UMass, he scored 49 points with 20 goals earning himself College Hockey News’ Player of the Year Award.
So far, the small but gritty forward has yet play a game for the Rangers.
The native of Setauket, NY has been solid for the Hartford Wolf Pack amassing 8 goals, 21 assists, and 29 points in 68 AHL games over parts of two seasons. In last season’s Calder Cup playoffs, he added 3 points in 9 matches and showed an ability to be play in tough situations.
Coming into camp, Trivigno needs to let the Rangers know he’s a lot more than a feisty fourth-liner. He’ll need to show some of that scoring ability he displayed in college if he hopes to stick around past this season.
Karl Henriksson
Henriksson, 22, was selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. To date, the small Swedish center has yet to play a single game for the big club.
Before coming over to North America, Henriksson scored 9 points in 40 games with Frolunda of the SHL playing against men in 2021-22. In his first pro season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, he registered 17 points in 70 games, but went scoreless in 7 playoff contests.
With the trend in the NHL of getting continuously bigger in size, the 5-9 pivot needs to show some of the playmaking ability that attracted the Rangers to him in the first place.
Of all the prospects attending rookie camp, none has more to prove than Canadian born defenseman Matthew Robertson.
When the Rangers drafted him during the second round of the 2019 draft, they expected the now 22 year-old to be pushing for a full-time roster spot. Considering his formidable size at 6-4 and 201 lbs, he would be an ideal partner for Braden Schneider on the third pair.
Last season with the Wolf Pack was an up and down affair. He scored 23 points in 57 games showing some of that offensive ability from juniors. Unfortunately, his campaign was cut short by injury as he missed the entirety of the Pack’s Calder Cup playoff run.
Entering this season, it’s a pivotal one for Robertson with the Rangers organization. He’s due to be a restricted free agent next summer, and needs to make some serious strides starting immediately when camp opens.
What Robertson needs to show management is his ability to be that two-way defenseman they selected. That means moving the puck and making that all important outlet pass throughout camp. He must also maintain the steadiness in his own zone that won him Central Division’s Defenseman of the Year in 2020-21 with a +26.
While the organization would love a Robertson and Schneider pairing for the foreseeable future, it falls on the prospect to make the impression needed. If he does, we may see his NHL debut this season.
For more on the 24 players at camp, click here.
Here’s the Rangers Rookie Camp Schedule:
- 9/13 – Practice (12:30 PM) – MSG Training Center
- 9/14 – Practice (10:30 AM) – MSG Training Center
- 9/15 – Rookie Game @ Flyers (7:00 PM) – PPL Center in Allentown, PA
- 9/16 – Rookie Game @ Flyers (5:00 PM) – PPL Center in Allentown, PA
- 9/17 and 9/18 – No Practice
- 9/19 – Practice (12:15 PM) – MSG Training Center
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