The New York Rangers are navigating a puzzling path post-Olympic break. While the front office's Letter 2.0 hinted at a future-focused strategy, the on-ice decisions paint a different picture.
Young forwards are getting their chances, but the defense tells another story, especially on the right side. Here, a veteran struggling to find form and a waiver-wire pickup are getting the nod over the team's most promising young defender.
In their latest win, Igor Shesterkin was nothing short of spectacular, facing an onslaught of 42 shots to the Rangers' 9 in the last two periods. The 21-1 shot margin in the final frame underscores a defense that's not quite up to scratch, raising concerns about Adam Fox’s uncertain future with the team.
Braden Schneider’s Continued Struggles
With Fox sidelined, the Rangers needed someone to step up and fill those top-pair minutes. Scott Morrow seemed like the natural choice to pair with Vladislav Gavrikov, yet Braden Schneider was thrust into the role.
The results? Less than ideal.
Schneider's time on the top pair coincided with Gavrikov's roughest patch of the season-a connection that's hard to ignore.
Now that Fox is back, Schneider has returned to the third pair, but not without more lineup shuffling. Will Borgen has been demoted to accommodate Schneider, despite Borgen's $4.1 million cap hit through 2030.
His possession numbers have plummeted to 45.3 CF%, and while injuries have played a part, they don't tell the whole story. The Rangers are left trying to patch up a situation they created by treating a third-pair defenseman like a top-four stalwart.
Schneider remains the go-to fix, yet he hasn't delivered the results. With a team-high 1,139 minutes of 5v5 ice time, his underlying stats from Evolving-Hockey (45.63 GF%, 45.61 xGF%) show he's out of his depth in top-four minutes. It's like rearranging deck chairs on a ship that can't seem to find its way out of the defensive zone.
The Iorio Enigma
Things took another twist with the January claim of Vincent Iorio. In just five games, Iorio has shown why he was available, ranking low in skating speed and struggling with a 41.72 CF%. Picking up Iorio while leaving Scott Morrow, a key piece from the K’Andre Miller trade, in the AHL seems counterintuitive to a retooling strategy.
Why Morrow Deserves a Shot
While the NHL lineup settles for less-than-stellar minutes from Schneider and Iorio, Morrow is making waves in Hartford. In March, he’s tallied two goals and two assists in six games. Even in a tough 7-0 loss to Providence, he was only a minus-one, showing resilience despite the team's struggles.
In his 29 NHL games earlier this season, Morrow posted a 48.84 xGF%, outpacing both Schneider and Borgen. His 49.11 CF% ranks fourth on the team, only behind Gavrikov, Urho Vaakanainen, and Fox.
Morrow is a modern defender with a knack for puck movement and offense. In Mike Sullivan’s system, which thrives on quick transitions, Morrow’s skills are a perfect match.
Yet, the Rangers continue to prioritize size and grit, traits that aren’t winning them possession battles.
Time for the Rangers to Decide
The Rangers know what they have in Schneider, a pending RFA, and Borgen, under contract for the long haul. Both are bottom-four defenders being stretched too thin. They also know Iorio is a project that hasn’t stuck with multiple organizations this season.
What remains unknown is Morrow’s potential with a full top-four workload. With the season nearing its end, the Rangers should focus on potential upside rather than settling for mediocrity.
If Morrow doesn’t fit Sullivan's vision, they should at least maximize his NHL minutes to enhance his trade value. This would require some forward-thinking from Chris Drury, but given the current state of the blue line, that might be a tall order.