The New York Rangers are in a position where they can get a good look at their future with the playoffs completely out of the picture. In the past week, the Rangers announced they were signing one of their top prospects, Drew Fortescue, to an entry-level contract, with the intent to play him on the pro roster at some point this season. It was an intriguing decision by the Rangers, considering they are using a year of Fortescue's contract to play in the final month of the season.
So, when exactly can Rangers fans expect the rookie to play this season?
During practice on Monday morning, hours before their game against the Ottawa Senators, head coach Mike Sullivan said he does not plan on putting Fortescue in the lineup for that contest (h/t The Athletic's Vince Mercogliano). Sullivan stressed that he would like Fortescue to get some practices under his belt before feeling comfortable enough to put him in the lineup.
Sullivan confirmed that Fortescue won't play tonight. He reiterated that they'd like to get him some practices before throwing him into the lineup. #NYR https://t.co/mnJ6KUQG40
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) March 23, 2026
The wait for Drew Fortescue may not be much longer
Fortescue reported to Rangers' practice on Monday morning, where he was wearing the No. 45.
Here is the Rangers' stretch of games after their contest against the Senators on Monday, regarding when Fortescue could potentially make his debut:
- Wednesday, March 25: at Toronto Maple Leafs
- Friday, March 27: vs. Chicago Blackhawks
- Sunday, March 29: vs. Florida Panthers
- Tuesday, March 31: vs. New Jersey Devils
After the Rangers' 3-2 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon, Sullivan was asked when Fortescue could make his NHL debut. While he didn't provide an exact date when Fortescue could make play in his first game, he did say he plans on it being at some point in this final stretch of the season, while also detailing the plan they want to implement before Fortescue gets the call.
Asked #NYR Mike Sullivan if there’s a plan in place for Drew Fortescue:
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) March 22, 2026
He said “Yes”, jokingly. @Peter_Baugh followed up:
“I would envision him playing some games moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/yUI9DOdTOh
"I would envision him playing some games here moving forward," said Sullivan. "And we're excited to work with him. He has good size, he skates well. I think his defensive capability is his core strength based on the conversations that I've had. He's got a little bit of edge to him. He's a competitive guy. We've got to try to help him get a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger as most young players. That's one of the challenges of making the jump in this league. But the attributes that he has, we're real excited about and we're looking forward to working with him."
As you can see, Sullivan has praise for Fortescue, highlighting his skating and his defensive abilities. While he does stress that the team needs to work with on improving Fortescue's strength, that is something that all teams work on with their rookies over time. Fortescue is 6-foot-2 and weighs 195 pounds, according to his player profile on the NHL website.
Fortescue had been playing for Boston College in these past three seasons after being selected in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Last season, Fortescue put up 11 assists and a +28 plus/minus ratio in 36 games for the Eagles. This season, Fortescue scored four goals while recording 10 assists and a +3 plus/minus ratio.
Rangers fans can expect Fortescue to make his debut when Sullivan feels comfortable, and it could all depend on how his upcoming practices go. The next question will be who Fortescue will pair up with on defense when he is ready to make his pro debut.