Defenseman Matthew Robertson was placed on waivers Monday, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, clearing a roster spot — and cap space — for the Rangers to call up a center with Joe Veleno out for Tuesday’s game against the Islanders.
Veleno, who exited with a lower-body injury Sunday and was still being evaluated the next day, didn’t practice Monday, and Robertson was held out for what the Rangers labeled as roster management.
A lack of center depth on their 23-man roster forced the Blueshirts to expose a piece of their blue-line depth to waivers just one week into the season. They entered Monday with $461,686 in current cap space, according to PuckPedia.
With a roster spot now open, the Blueshirts will be able to add a center before Thursday.
Oliver Bjorkstrand skated in Veleno’s spot during practice Monday. Justin Dowling, Glenn Gawdin, Juuso Parssinen, Cole Beaudoin and Dylan Roobroeck are Wolf Pack options they could turn to.
Robertson, a second-round pick in 2019, skated in 72 games for the Rangers last season, but the left-handed defenseman lost a spot in the lineup to rookie — and No. 5 overall pick — Alberts Smits.
He still made the team out of training camp, along with extra right-handed Scott Morrow, when the Rangers carried eight defensemen to start the season.
But now the Blueshirts will wait 24 hours to see if they’ll lose depth.
Robertson produced six goals and 18 points last year. If he clears, he’ll he be assigned to AHL Hartford and join a group of left-handed defensemen that includes Urho Vaakanainen, Drew Fortescue and Marc Del Gaizo — who all have NHL experience.
