Vincent Iorio’s first practice with the New York Rangers ended with a moment that said a lot about the kind of guy he is-and the kind of locker room he’s stepping into. As the 23-year-old defenseman wrapped up his debut skate in Tarrytown, his new teammates lined up, tapping their sticks on the ice in a welcome gauntlet. Iorio, grinning, skated through it like a rookie on his first day of camp.
“It was cool. I don’t know who started that,” Iorio said, smiling. “They all started tapping their sticks and asked if I wanted to do a gauntlet, so I really can’t say no.”
That smile? Get used to it.
Despite bouncing between three teams this season and being claimed on waivers twice, Iorio’s upbeat mindset hasn’t wavered. He leans into the chaos with the kind of positivity that’s hard not to root for.
“For me, it’s just to continue having that positive mindset and just be the happy-go-lucky kid that I am,” he said. “I pride myself on smiling coming to the rink every day and just being happy, and I’m going to continue doing the same thing here.”
A second-round pick by the Washington Capitals back in 2021, Iorio’s NHL journey has already had a few twists. After starting the season with the San Jose Sharks-where he logged 21 games and averaged 16:30 of ice time-he was placed on waivers and scooped up by the Rangers over the weekend.
He chipped in three assists during his time in San Jose, and while his stint there was short, he spoke highly of the experience. Still, it’s clear he’s excited for this next chapter in New York.
“I was obviously really excited. This is such a storied franchise.
So, I’m just excited,” Iorio said after his first skate. “First practice was good.
I know a couple of the guys, so that made it a little bit easier. … It’s just nice to have a couple familiar faces.”
Those familiar faces include fellow defensemen Braden Schneider and Scott Morrow-both right-shot blueliners like Iorio. He played junior hockey with Schneider in Brandon (WHL) and went to prep school with Morrow at Shattuck-St.
Mary’s. That familiarity could help ease the transition, but it also sets up an interesting competition on the right side of the Rangers' blue line.
Schneider’s name has been swirling in trade rumors as the Rangers look to retool their roster, and Morrow’s rookie season has had its ups and downs. That opens the door for Iorio to potentially carve out a role, especially on the third pair.
Nothing’s set in stone yet, and the Rangers have three days of practice before their next game-Thursday at home against Carolina-followed by the three-week Olympic break. But there’s a real opportunity here for Iorio to show what he can do.
And what exactly can Rangers fans expect?
Iorio brings with him 30 games of NHL regular-season experience, plus a playoff appearance in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference First Round-against the Rangers, no less. He also has back-to-back Calder Cup championships under his belt with the Hershey Bears in 2023 and 2024. He’s not a grizzled vet, but he’s got more than a cup of coffee at the pro level.
Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan liked what he saw in that first practice.
“I thought he looked good today. First time seeing him up close, he looks like he has decent puck skills, he’s got good size-6-foot-4, 220 pounds,” Sullivan said.
“So, I thought for a first practice, it’s not an easy thing just jumping into a brand-new team like that. I thought he executed pretty well in some of the drills we were doing.
Maybe the biggest thing that jumped out at me was his ability to move the puck. That skillset certainly will help us.”
That puck-moving ability is especially relevant right now, with Adam Fox still sidelined. Fox skated in a no-contact jersey Monday, but the team doesn’t expect him back until after the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
He’s already missed 12 games with a lower-body injury, after being out for 14 games in December with an upper-body issue. In his absence, the Rangers have struggled to generate clean breakouts and transition offense from the back end-areas where Iorio could help.
As for how he sees his own game?
“Solid two-way defenseman,” Iorio said. “I just want to break pucks out, play hard defensively, try and contribute and join the rush as much as I can.
… I try and pride myself trying to close as hard as I can in the D-zone. Obviously, you want to be as physical as possible and I want to continue to build on that.”
That mindset fits well with what the Rangers are trying to do in this stretch run. With the trade deadline looming and the Olympic break offering a natural pause, this is a crucial evaluation period for New York.
They’re looking closely at young players with upside, trying to figure out who’s part of the long-term picture. Iorio, at 23, with size, mobility, and a bit of NHL seasoning, checks a lot of boxes.
“He’s a young guy that’s been fairly sought after,” Sullivan said. “I know his name has come up in a few discussions throughout the course of this season with our hockey operations, and so we’re looking forward to getting to know him and watching him up close.”
For Iorio, the opportunity is clear. The Rangers are giving him a look. Now it’s up to him to make it count.