The New York Rangers begin their long-awaited return to the ice with a new captain, a new patch on their shoulder, and some new prospects trying to fight for a roster spot. The 23-man roster is almost complete at the moment, with the small chance that some up-and-comers might get a crack at making the big leagues.
This is the time of year when it is time to either make it or break it. Either you stand out amongst your peers or get pushed back even further into the logjam, with no hope for an NHL debut in your future.
But, with the ever-rotating door of the NHL with injuries and movement due to performance, there is an opportunity to show your skills in the preseason to try and sway upper management. There are two players in particular who need to look at this six-game slate as their time to shine, not fail.
Scott Morrow
Boy, do the Rangers have high hopes for this kid, Scott Morrow. Involved in the trade sending K'Andre Miller to Carolina, Morrow enters his first training camp with the Rangers with an eye on trying to crack the third defensive pairing.
He spoke to reporters following his performance during the Rookie Showcase, in which he notched a goal against Philadelphia. Before even suiting up for the Blueshirts, he was given an "A" on his chest, furthering the faith that the brass has in the young defenseman.
The Rangers currently have a semi-lock of having Branden Schneider and Urho Vaakanainen as the bottom defensive pair, but it will likely have some movement. Namely with Scheneider, who himself must use this upcoming 2025-26 season as a "give it all" type season, as his contract will be coming to an end at the end of it. Inserting Morrow here at some point this season is going to be a given; it just comes down to when.
Dylan Garand
Jonathan Quick is giving it another go, as he will be 40 years old during the middle of the season on January 21. This is why goaltender Dyaln Garand has to have a stellar season, as he is likely to be the backup if this is Quick's last season.
Obviously, Igor Shesterkin will be a starter until he decides to hang it up for the Rangers, but it is important for this team to lock up a steady backup for when the Prince starts to show signs of slowing down. Having a 40-year-old goaltender, who can hang with the best of them, as evident by his stellar performance last season, is not a long-term solution.
This is where Garand comes in, and why he must shine this preseason. He will likely still be the go-to guy in Hartford for the duration of the 2025-26 season, barring any kind of injury to Shesterkin or Quick. But it will be important for him to get as many NHL reps in as possible, as he could be called up at any moment next season.