While many are pleased with the New York Rangers’ Blueliners’ offensive prowess this year, there are those that feel that they should be a little more physical in their own end. One of the young players coming through the prospect pipeline that could help that situation without sacrificing offense is their 2019 second-round draft pick, Matthew Robertson.
New York Rangers draft pick is described as “old school”
The first thing that jumps out at you is that the 18-year-old is listed at about 6’4″ and 200 pounds. He should grow a little more as he matures which will help provide a big presence in front of the net. The fact that he is big and smart, almost always in the right position and very composed has led to the “old school” label. However, he will not hurt the Rangers offensively. Robertson is described as a two-way player with a team-first attitude and has the experience and confidence handling both big minutes and situations. He has played internationally in the past, competing in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Tournament, where he recorded two goals and two assists in five games. He can also handle the puck well. Futureconsiderations.ca has stated that he is nearly impossible to strip the puck from once he has it due to his ability to skate with it and protect it.
Robertson continues to play well in the WHL
The Rangers’ second-round pick continues to play well for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. Through 45 games played, Robertson has tallied 10 goals and 20 assists. This seems to go along with his promised skill set that includes his reputation as an excellent passer, efficiently moving the puck in transition. He can make smart plays from the point while still possessing a rocket of a shot. He seems to be on pace to match or exceed last year’s point total of 33. He has been an integral part of the Oil Kings as they currently sit in first place in the Central Division. This means that Robertson will see at least one more round of playoff hockey. Last season, he had 4 goals and 4 assists as Edmonton reached the final four of the WHL playoffs. Playoff experience at any level is valuable in a player’s growth process that hopefully will help Rangers teams in the future.