2026 Rangers Season Previews: Matthew Robertson

 This article is part of an ongoing series of New York Rangers Season Previews, taking a close look at what we can, and should, expect from each member of the 2026-27 New York Rangers. To read other articles in this series, go here.

Matthew Robertson, originally a 2019 second round pick of the New York Rangers, spent nearly all of 2021-2025 with the Hartford Wolf Pack, seemingly stuck at a development plateau and caught behind an organizational logjam on defense. Originally touted as a tough defenseman with good puck skills, Robertson struggled in his first few professional years to make strides on the offensive side, and occasionally found his defensive play slipping.

But during the 2025-26 season, he finally got his shot with the Rangers, appearing in 72 games and looking like a solid depth NHLer. For a team that has Vladislav Gavrikov locked in on the top pairing and just rebuilt the second pair via the acquisitions of Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi, the Rangers are happy to have what looks like a dependable option for the left side of the third pair.

Previous Performance

Robertson stepped into the Rangers' lineup last season, playing the majority of his minutes with either Braden Schneider and Will Borgen. It didn't seem to matter much which of the two Robertson lined up alongside on a depth pairing, as he routinely skated to near-break-even numbers in expected goals-for percentage: 48.2 percent with Borgen and 47.9 percent with Schneider. For a third pairing guy, that's perfectly serviceable.

But perhaps more importantly, Robertson proved that he can handle minutes further up the lineup as well, at least in a small sample size. In just over 30 minutes of ice with Adam Fox, Robertson carried an xGF% north of 80—the kind of thing you hope to see for a player who still needs to earn his minutes.

In terms of traditional counting stats, Robertson tallied a respectable six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. He's never been a huge scorer, capping out at 47 points in 60 games during his junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings, but he proved that he can provide some supplementary offense from the blue line.

Expectations

While Robertson carved out a nice role for himself on the 2025-26 Rangers, his place on the roster this season—through no fault of his own—comes with a great deal of uncertainty. With the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft, the Rangers selected left-shot defenseman Alberts Smits, a physically mature and polished player for his age.

This means that, with Gavrikov and Pettersson all but assured the top two LHD slots, Robertson will have to compete with a true blue chip prospect for the final roster spot. On top of that, the Rangers re-signed Urho Vaakanainen this summer, so the left-shot defense group once again looks crowded.

Robertson did outplay Vaakanainen last season, so the most likely spot for him is the 7D role, filling in as injuries and play necessitate. Indeed, if Smits beats out Robertson for a top-6 role, it's still likely that coach Mike Sullivan will want to limit Smits's workload and give him opportunities to study the game from up top.

If Robertson can be that dependable 7D, step into the left side on any pair and provide solid minutes, that's a big win for the 25-year-old.

Predictions

30 GP | 2 G | 6 A | 8 PTS

I'm looking for Robertson to play between 25-35 games as 7D, often stepping in when the coaching staff feels Smits (or Vaakanainen) needs a reset. He'll get lots of minutes once again with Braden Schneider, though he'll see less usage in overtime with the addition of Durzi.

If Gavrikov or Fox goes down for any extended period of time, though, all bets are off. Robertson could solidify a role for himself with more minutes and more responsibility, which might make him a valid trade candidate come the spring if the Rangers are out of playoff position.

Conclusion

Robertson is something of a luxury for the Rangers this season. You can never have too many solid young defensemen, and he gives them a good conundrum to deal with at the advent of Smits's career. Whether Robertson secures a third-pair spot or serves as a solid-if-unspectacular 7D, he's a symbol of just how much the Rangers have improved their back end over the last few months.

With only one season separating Robertson from unrestricted free agency, he is at least a sign that the Rangers aren't entirely inept when it comes to developing their own draft picks.