The Rangers made a bold bet when they reshaped their roster, and early on, the Sean Durzi part of that deal is looking like a win.
New York beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Sunday to move to 3-1-0, with Durzi logging 22:57 of ice time, three blocked shots and two giveaways. The matchup also brought the Vincent Trocheck swap back into focus, but at least for now, the Rangers have the cleaner opening month.
Durzi was brought in for a specific purpose. Head coach Mike Sullivan had said the team needed defensemen who could carry the puck up ice, and Durzi fit that description.
That was enough to help push the Rangers toward the difficult decision to move Trocheck, a move that only happened after he waived his no-movement clause. Trocheck had initially wanted to stay on the east coast.
President and General Manager Chris Drury and Sullivan both wanted changes on the blue line, and Durzi was a key part of that plan. He has settled into a second-pairing role with fellow offseason addition Marcus Pettersson, and through four games he has been on the right side of the ledger. The Rangers have not been scored on while he’s been on the ice.
That matters even more with Igor Shesterkin in goal. Shesterkin has started three of the Rangers’ four games and has allowed five goals on 76 shots in those three starts.
Durzi has also shown some offense. He scored his first goal with the Rangers in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings, and he might have added another if the Rangers had not been called offsides on the play. Detroit challenged, and the goal came off the board.
Trocheck, meanwhile, was back at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. He was on the ice for three Rangers goals, but his line with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz was outshot 8-5.
For the Rangers, the early part of the season looks very different from last year’s dreadful 2025-26 start. The offseason additions are doing their jobs.
Durzi has helped on both ends, Pavel Dorofeyev is producing alongside captain J.T. Miller on the second line and has already shown the kind of shot that makes him dangerous, and Alberts Smits has looked like the most pro-ready prospect in this year’s draft without appearing overwhelmed.
The holdovers have chipped in too. Shesterkin remains sharp after last season’s injury, Gabe Perreault is taking steps in his development on the top line, Alexis Lafreniere was aggressive offensively against the Mammoth, and Miller has been thriving next to Dorofeyev while also being more vocal as captain.
The next stretch will tell the Rangers plenty. They go for their first win against the Islanders since the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, then face the Washington Capitals and their stacked forward group on Friday.
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