Rangers defenseman sidelined by injury, could hurt roster chances

Matthew Robertson entered training camp facing difficult odds to earn a spot on the New York Rangers’ opening-night roster. His hopes took another downturn Tuesday, when the Rangers announced that the 23-year-old defenseman is out with a lower-body injury.

Though listed as day to day with the injury, each practice or preseason game missed is a big blow for Robertson and his chances to land a roster spot. The 2019 second-round pick has never played an NHL game, but is competing with veterans Chad Ruhwedel, Connor Mackey and Ben Harpur to be the extra defenseman on Broadway this season.

Robertson was in the lineup Sunday when the Rangers opened the preseason with a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. However, he played only 10 shifts and saw just 8:19 in ice time, apparently because of the injury. He had two hits in that span and was on ice for Victor Mancini’s goal in the first period.

However, Robertson also led the Rangers with three giveaways Sunday.

Robertson had 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in 68 games with Hartford of the American Hockey League last season. When the Rangers needed to recall a defenseman on two occasions, they selected Mackey and Brandon Scanlin, not Robertson.

Despite his falling stock, Robertson received a qualifying offer this past offseason and signed a one-year contract. Robertson had a good start to camp and the fourth-year pro believed he was in a better space mentally after he focused on his mental skills this offseason.

“I worked on the mental side of the game this summer and tried to improve that,” Robertson explained at rookie camp . “That was probably the biggest thing holding me back. My mental psyche, keeping confident and consistent each day. It’s something that I’ve worked on this summer, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it pans out this year.”

Related: Rangers assign towering goalie to Hartford, reduce roster to 47

Matthew Robertson faces long odds to make Rangers opening-night roster

It could be that Robertson just misses a few days before returning. But Mackey played a strong game Sunday with an assist and saw 23:03 of ice time; Mancini had a terrific preseason debut with a goal, an assist and strong two-way play.

Harpur and Ruhwedel were in the lineup Tuesday against the New York Islanders.

Ruhwedel likely will be the extra defenseman to start the season in New York. He was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the trade deadline last March and re-signed this summer. The 34-year-old has 364 games of NHL experience and helped the Penguins with the Stanley Cup in 2017.

The Rangers’ top six on defense is set with Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and Braden Schneider on the right side, and Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller and Zac Jones on the left.

Harpur is an interesting option because he was New York’s sixth defenseman for much of the 2022-23 season. However, he missed almost all of last season and played just seven AHL games because of a torn pectoral muscle.

The Rangers also announced that goalie Talyn Boyko and center Ryder Korczak are day to day with upper-body injuries.

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