Drew Fortescue confirmed to make NHL debut for Rangers tonight vs. Blackhawks

The New York Rangers were officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second season in a row on Wednesday, but Drew Fortescue's NHL debut tonight gives fans something to look forward to. The Pearl River native confirmed that he would be in Friday's lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden, and he will have a large contingent of friends and family in attendance.

Mike Sullivan thinks now is the right time for Fortescue to show what he can do

The Blueshirts' bench boss was asked by assembled media after Friday's morning skate about Fortescue, and shared his thoughts on why today was the right time for the rookie to make his debut.

Via Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic:

“He’s had enough of an opportunity here this week to be around the group and get comfortable in the surroundings. Get him on the ice a handful of times, and then spend a few opportunities with (David Quinn), one-on-one, watching film, so that he has a better understanding of how we're trying to play.”

Practice time is hard to come by at times during the NHL season, and the Rangers generally like to give their prospects and callups time to go through the paces before they are thrust into immediate action.

Rangers should make most of Fortescue down the stretch

The Rangers officially burned the first year of Drew Fortescue’s entry-level contract to get him into the lineup. With the postseason out of reach, it makes every sense to give him as many minutes as possible to adjust to the NHL pace. The Rangers' braintrust has high hopes for him going forward, and now is a great time to benchmark his overall readiness and potential for the immediate future. Interestingly, Fortescue’s first assignment will come on the third pair alongside Matthew Robertson.

While Robertson is also a left-handed shot, he has been one of the breakout stories for the Rangers this season. After years of development in Hartford, Robertson has established himself as a reliable, calming presence on the blueline, and he should provide the necessary defensive security to allow Fortescue to play a more confident, aggressive game in a sheltered role.

Fortescue joins the Rangers following a decorated career at Boston College. Drafted 90th overall in 2023, the 6'2", 194-pound defenseman brings a blend of modern size and mobility the team has lacked in their bottom four. His collegiate totals of eight goals and 33 points over 112 games, don't necessarily scream offensive powerhouse, but that was never his role at BC. Fortescue is a defense first skater whose peak projection is a reliable, middle-pair shutdown man.

In many ways, his profile mirrors those of former NCAA standouts like Ryan Lindgren and Brady Skjei. Like them, Fortescue’s game is built on a high hockey IQ, strong gaps, and an efficient first pass. While there’s no way to know what his final form will look like on Broadway, the final games of this season are his chance to prove he belongs in the main roster conversation for next season. For now, the best thing the 20-year-old can do is simply go out and play with the confidence that made him a success for Team USA during international play, and in college at B.C.