The New York Rangers have struggled this season, but the elite play of star defenseman Adam Fox has been a bright spot. However, he is expected to miss extended periods of time due to an upper-body injury, and New York will need defensemen Braden Schneider and Scott Morrow to help them survive Fox’s absence.
Braden Schneider’s play will be crucial
The Rangers drafted Schneider in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and he made his NHL debut for them during the 2021-2022 season when he was just 20 years old. He earned a spot in the lineup as a third-pairing defenseman and remained in the lineup for the postseason as New York advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Schneider provided consistent play on the Rangers’ third defensive pair and penalty kill while cutting in offensively. He finished with five goals and 13 assists in 81 games in 2022-23, five goals and 14 assists in 82 games in 2023-24, and six goals and 15 assists in 80 games last season. Although he showed promise, he was left on the third pair behind fellow right-handed defensemen Fox and Jacob Trouba.
When key defensemen missed time for the Rangers last season, Schneider moved into the top four and held his own. He even played well when moved to the left side. This season he again finished on the third pair behind Fox and Will Borgen, but he played a bigger role when Borgen missed time, and he will be a key blueliner with Fox out now.
Schneider is a good skater who plays with physicality and is able to cross the net in front. While he isn’t skilled with the puck or as an elite playmaker, he has a hard shot and can help the Rangers by making smart cuts in the offensive zone. He will also spend more time playing against his opponent’s best attacking players, and he needs to hold his own defensively.
Schneider gets the chance to do this playing with Vladislav Gavrikovwho is off to an excellent start in his first season with New York, and the hope is they can be a shutdown pair. Offensively he will certainly not replace Fox, but offensively he can produce a little more than he has done so far this season (one goal and four assists in 28 games).
Big opportunity for Scott Morrow
This low season, the Rangers acquired Morrow and draft picks from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for K’Andre Miller. Morrow played well for UMass-Amherst, finishing with 93 points in 109 games over three seasons. He made his NHL debut in 2023-2024, playing two games for Carolina.
Related: Assessing the Rangers trade of K’Andre Miller to the Hurricanes
Morrow spent most of last season with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL), and he continued to put up impressive numbers, finishing with 13 goals and 26 assists in 52 games. He also had one goal and five assists in 14 regular season games with the Hurricanes and was held without a point in five playoff games.
This season, Morrow has one goal and two assists in 12 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack and one assist in five games with the Rangers. While he didn’t get much ice time in his first few games with New York, he should get more consistent playing time while Fox is out.
Morrow is handy with the puck, has a good shot and is a skilled playmaker. The Rangers haven’t had much offensive production from their defensemen besides Fox, as Gavrikov is second on the team in points by a defenseman with 12, and Schneider and Carson Soucy are third with five. Morrow is capable of generating offense at even strength, and he played on the team’s second power play unit in their win against the Dallas Stars on December 2.
The Rangers need to find a way to earn points while Fox is out
It won’t be easy for the Rangers to find ways to win games without Fox, but they are already at the bottom of the standings and need to start winning games. They got off to a strong start in December a 3-2 victory in extra time against the Stars, and both Schneider and Morrow played well in the game. Both will have a bigger role with Fox out, and both will have to step up to give New York a chance to win games.
#Rangers #Schneider #Morrow #Fox #Hockey #Writers #York #Rangers #Latest #news #analysis