Matthew Robertson is headed to waivers as Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers make a hard roster cut.
The Rangers placed Robertson on NHL waivers Monday, putting the 25-year-old defenseman at risk of being claimed by another club before New York can move forward with its roster plans.
It's a sharp turn for a player who has spent years trying to force his way through the Rangers' depth chart and into a permanent NHL role.
Robertson now sits directly in front of the league. Every team gets a chance to claim him, which means New York could lose the defenseman without receiving an asset in return.
That tells plenty about where Robertson currently stands with Sullivan's staff and Chris Drury's front office. The Rangers are choosing roster flexibility over protecting his place inside the organization.
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For Robertson, the timing stings. Training camp is supposed to settle jobs, and this decision sends a clear message that New York's blue-line picture has moved in another direction.
Connor Zary joins Robertson in surprise waiver group
Robertson wasn't the only recognizable name exposed Monday. Connor Zary was also placed on waivers, adding a far more unexpected twist to the league-wide roster squeeze.
Zary carries a different profile. The Calgary forward is a former first-round pick, which makes his appearance on the waiver wire one of the day's biggest surprises.
That also matters for Robertson because teams searching the waiver list suddenly have multiple intriguing options. Clubs setting their opening rosters can scan for players who might fit without surrendering a draft pick or prospect in a trade.
New York is taking that chance with Robertson rather than keeping him around as extra defensive depth. For a team trying to settle its roster before the schedule gets moving, there's little ambiguity left.
If Robertson clears, the Rangers retain control of the next step. If another team claims him, his long push for a permanent role in New York ends immediately.
Either outcome changes his place in the organization. Sullivan now has one fewer unresolved decision on the blue line, while Robertson waits to learn whether another NHL team sees an opening.
The Rangers made their call. Robertson is available, and with Zary joining him on waivers, Monday's list suddenly carries much more intrigue than expected.
Will another NHL team claim Matthew Robertson off waivers?
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