The Rangers dipped into Hartford for help on Sunday, recalling defenseman Marc Del Gaizo while Sean Durzi remains on IR and Alberts Smits is sidelined with an upper-body injury.
Del Gaizo’s call-up comes after he was named the 16th captain in Hartford Wolf Pack history, and he’s been producing from the blue line right away. In 15 games to open the season, he has two goals and nine assists for 11 points, good for the lead among Wolf Pack defensemen.
That production is only part of what has put him on the Rangers’ radar. During training camp, head coach Mike Sullivan pointed to Del Gaizo’s blend of edge and discipline as something that stood out.
"#NYR head coach Mike Sullivan on Marc Del Gaizo:
"It's hard not to notice him. He's a fierce competitor.
He's physical. He plays with swagger.
But he also plays within himself. I think he understands the game that he has to play.
He's not a high-risk player. He makes simple…"
Del Gaizo also brings a personal connection to the organization. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey, native grew up rooting for the Rangers and described signing with the team this past offseason as "a dream come true."
"#NYR have signed @UMassHockey product Marc Del Gaizo to a 2-year deal.
Del Gaizo grew up a @NYRangers fan in Basking Ridge, NJ.
Del Gaizo said this is a dream come true.
He didn't find a spot on the MTL blue line last year, but played 46 games with the Nashville Predators in..."
For now, Matthew Robertson is expected to stay in the lineup as the sixth defenseman, paired with Scott Morrow on the bottom pair. Still, if the Rangers want more bite on the back end, Del Gaizo could be in line for a quick debut.
No additional update has been offered on Smits’ injury.
The Rangers are set to play the Edmonton Oilers on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Rangers Defensive Shuffle Suddenly Feels Bigger Than One Call-Up
The Rangers blue line got a little more complicated in the lead-up to their game against the Edmonton Oilers, with Marc Del Gaizo recalled from Hartford and Scott Morrow added to the lineup as the club practiced without much clarity on the full picture. It was the kind of morning that can make a routine roster move feel like more than a routine roster move, especially when the team is trying to sort through its defensive depth on short notice.
The timing matters because the recall came after an injury situation opened the door, and Sean Durzis move to injured reserve only added to the sense that the Rangers are managing more than one issue at once. The team did not offer any further injury updates after practice, leaving the immediate focus on how the defense will hold up while the group waits for a clearer read on who is available and for how long. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Win Still Exposed A Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Rangers got the result they needed against Seattle, but the way it unfolded left plenty to chew on. A 4-3 win is the kind of finish that usually feels satisfying in the standings, yet giving up three goals in the third period turned a comfortable night into a test of nerve, with the Kraken suddenly finding life and forcing New York to hang on.
Tye Kartye helped fuel Seattles push with a power-play goal, while Pavel Dorofeyev added another marker that showed why his scoring touch keeps drawing attention. Joonas Korpisalo was the difference in the closing stretch, turning aside a steady stream of shots as the Rangers tried to survive the surge, and the final scoreline only underscored how much work still remains if they want these games to feel secure. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Strong Start Put New Faces Under An Early Spotlight
A strong start has a way of putting every new face under the microscope, and the Rangers got that kind of night against Seattle. Tye Kartye was in the spotlight right away, and he has already made a good first impression since joining New York, including a notably fast snapshot goal that showed why the club wanted him in the mix. The game also brought a wave of fresh looks for the Rangers, with Eeli Tolvanen and Oliver Bjorkstrand making their debuts and Matthew Robertson getting his first action of the season.
Joonas Korpisalo was part of that same influx, giving the Rangers another new piece to evaluate as the roster keeps taking shape. Alberts Smits was out with an injury, which only added to the sense that this was one of those early-season nights when opportunity opens up quickly and the lineup can look different from one period to the next. For a team trying to build on a fast start, the immediate question is how much these new arrivals can keep changing the conversation. [Read more 🡒]