Matthew Robertson named Rangers nominee for Masterton Trophy
It didn’t take Matthew Robertson long to make his mark with the New York Rangers now that he’s finally in his first full NHL season. On Wednesday, Robertson was named the Rangers nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy. Since 1968, the Masterton Trophy has been awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Each individual chapter nominates one player from each team and then the entire PHWA votes on the winner. The award is named after former NHL forward Bill Masterton, who died from head injuries sustained in a game on Jan.
13, 1968, when playing for the Minnesota North Stars. Robertson earned the nomination after becoming a lineup regular in his rookie season with the Rangers. That followed four up-and-down seasons of playing with Hartford of the American Hockey League, where he went from a top prospect within the organization to an afterthought due to inconsistent play and injuries.
The 25-year-old defenseman had his best minor-league campaign in 2024-25, earning his first NHL game action at the end of last season. Robertson nearly scored on his first shift in his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers last April, and landed a two-year contract with the Rangers as a restricted free agent last summer. Robertson openly credits working with a sports psychologist for helping him navigate the difficult times and disappointments along the way.
And it’s all paid off for the 2019 second-round draft pick (No. 49 overall), who not only made the New York’s opening-night roster, but emerged as a reliable fixture on the defense corps. “It’s really worked for me,” Robertson told The Athletic .