The New York Rangers haven’t had the smoothest ride this season, but amid the ups and downs, Adam Fox has been one of the few constants-an elite presence on the blue line who can tilt the ice in New York’s favor every time he hops over the boards. Now, with Fox sidelined due to an upper-body injury and expected to miss extended time, the Rangers are staring down a critical stretch. If they want to stay afloat in a tightly contested race, they’ll need a couple of young defensemen-Braden Schneider and Scott Morrow-to rise to the occasion.
Braden Schneider: Time to Take the Next Step
Braden Schneider has been a steady presence on the Rangers' third pair since breaking into the league during the 2021-22 season. Drafted in the first round back in 2020, Schneider wasted little time making his mark, earning a spot in the lineup as a 20-year-old and contributing during New York’s run to the Eastern Conference Final that same year.
Since then, he’s carved out a niche as a reliable, no-nonsense defender who can chip in offensively-five goals and 13 assists in 2022-23, five goals and 14 assists in 2023-24, and six goals and 15 assists last season. That’s solid production from a third-pair blueliner, especially one who’s been stuck behind two right-handed anchors in Fox and Jacob Trouba.
But now, the depth chart has shifted. With Fox out and Will Borgen also having missed time, Schneider is being thrust into a larger role-and the Rangers need him to deliver.
He’s got the tools. Schneider’s a strong skater, plays with edge, and brings a physical presence that helps clear the crease and win battles in the corners.
Offensively, he’s not going to dazzle with end-to-end rushes, but he’s got a heavy shot and makes smart reads in the offensive zone. He’s not flashy, but he’s effective-and that’s exactly what the Rangers need right now.
What’s especially intriguing is his pairing with Vladislav Gavrikov. Gavrikov has been excellent in his first season with New York, and if he and Schneider can develop chemistry, they could form a shutdown duo capable of neutralizing top opposing lines. That’s no small ask, but Schneider’s shown in the past he can hang in a top-four role, even when playing his off side.
With just one goal and four assists through 28 games this season, there’s room for him to give the Rangers a little more offensively. But more than anything, they’ll be counting on him to eat tough minutes and bring stability to a defense corps that just lost its heartbeat.
Scott Morrow: A Big Opportunity on Broadway
While Schneider is the known quantity, Scott Morrow is the wild card-and this stretch might be his chance to prove he belongs.
The Rangers acquired Morrow in a trade with the Hurricanes this past offseason, sending K’Andre Miller the other way in a deal that raised eyebrows. But Morrow’s upside is real. He put up 93 points in 109 games over three seasons at UMass-Amherst and flashed offensive potential in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves last year, racking up 13 goals and 26 assists in 52 games.
He also got a taste of NHL action with Carolina-two games in 2023-24 and five playoff appearances, though he didn’t find the scoresheet in the postseason. This season, he’s split time between the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Rangers, notching one assist in five NHL games and three points in 12 AHL contests.
What Morrow brings is a different flavor from Schneider. He’s shifty with the puck, has a quick release, and isn’t afraid to jump into the play.
The Rangers haven’t gotten much offense from their blue line outside of Fox-Gavrikov leads the rest of the group with 12 points, while Schneider and Carson Soucy are next in line with five apiece. That’s where Morrow could help.
He’s already seen time on the second power-play unit, including in New York’s recent 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars on December 2. It was a promising showing, and if he can continue to grow into that role, he could add a much-needed spark to a team that’s been searching for secondary offense from the back end.
The key for Morrow will be consistency. The talent is there, but the NHL game moves fast, and he’ll need to prove he can handle the defensive responsibilities that come with regular minutes-especially with Fox out of the lineup.
The Rangers Need Answers-Fast
There’s no sugarcoating it: losing Adam Fox is a massive blow. He’s the kind of player who controls tempo, drives offense, and logs heavy minutes in all situations. Without him, the Rangers lose not just their best defenseman, but arguably their most important player.
But the season doesn’t pause for injuries, and the Rangers are already in a precarious spot near the bottom of the standings. Their overtime win against Dallas was a step in the right direction, and both Schneider and Morrow played well in that game. That’s encouraging-but it has to continue.
This is a defining stretch for the Rangers, and for these two young defensemen. Schneider has the chance to solidify himself as more than just a third-pair guy.
Morrow has an opportunity to show he’s ready for the NHL spotlight. Neither one is going to replace Fox-but together, they can help steady the ship until he returns.
And if they do? The Rangers might just find themselves back in the playoff picture with a deeper, more battle-tested blue line than they had before.