The New York Rangers haven't dealt with too many injuries to start this season, but they did suffer a huge one in the form of Igor Shesterkin, who is out for the season after suffering a knee injury in their sixth game. But recently, the Rangers have been without one of their big offseason additions on defense, and that's Sean Durzi.
Durzi has played relatively well at the start of his tenure, but his play dipped in a downward trajectory. Then, he's been sidelined with an unspecified injury. He last played in their 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Even after the nearly week-long break, Durzi missed their games against the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues. With Durzi out, the team has relied on Scott Morrow to fill in in his absence. Normally a healthy scratch on game nights, Morrow has been a positive defensively.
Now, he may have a bit more opportunities to prove he is worthy of playing in every game moving forward after the latest Durzi update.
Sean Durzi retroactively placed on injured reserve by Rangers
On Thursday, the Rangers made a plethora of moves, one of them being placing Durzi on injured reserve, retroactive on Oct. 26. For those unaware, if a player is placed on injured reserve, they must miss a minimum of seven days. Considering it's retroactive since last week, he would be cleared to return whenever he's ready.
As for when he could return, head coach Mike Sullivan said that he doesn't believe Durzi will make the start of their upcoming road trip, which begins on Saturday when they take on the Seattle Kraken. From there, the Rangers play the Oilers (Nov. 9), Calgary Flames (Nov. 11), and Vancouver Canucks (Nov. 13).
"I don't know that he's going to make the trip initially. I think it all depends on how he progresses," said Sullivan, h/t Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic.
So, it's a bit of an incomplete answer from Sullivan when it comes to Durzi's return. We don't know what kind of injury he's dealing, or when he could return. So, that does leave the door propped open for Morrow to make an impression on Sullivan that he should be in the lineup moving forward, even when Durzi returns.
Scott Morrow has chance to prove he's worthy of being every game defenseman for Rangers
Morrow has only played in two games entering Thursday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers. Facing off against the Oilers, Morrow recorded an assist and had three shots on goal in 15:02 of ice time. Then, in the Rangers' 3-1 win over the Blues, Morrow was on the ice when the Rangers scored two goals.
Morrow has shown that he is able to at least push the Rangers up ice out of their own zone and into the opposing territory. That is a plus for New York, especially as they are trying to get more production from their forwards, especially in the bottom six and with top offseason acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev. Morrow has primarily been paired up with rookie and first round pick Alberts Smits. Against the Oilers, the Rangers outshot them 12-11 when that pair was together on ice. Facing the Blues, the Rangers outshot them 9-8 when the Morrow-Smits pair was on the ice.
Smits had primarily played alongside Braden Schneider this season, who hasn't exactly endeared himself to the fanbase with his play. Last season, he showed he was incapable of being a top pairing defenseman after not performing well, even alongside star Adam Fox. That has been increased tenfold now that he's earning $5.5 million in the offseason. This season, he hasn't played particularly well. At least, not playing up to his contract. Schneider has also had a negative impact on Smits. It's not a coincidence that Smits is playing better away from Schneider.
Once Durzi returns, one player will be sent back to the press box as a healthy scratch. If Morrow continues to play well, it would be odd for Sullivan to refuse to play him over someone who is struggling. When talking with reporters on Thursday, Sullivan said he was open to playing Morrow more if he is one of the six best defenseman on the team.
“Of course there is. Performance matters. Guys that make an impact — a positive impact on the game — are going to be in the conversation for being in the lineup," said Sullivan, h/t Mercogliano. "We have these discussions before every game as a coaching staff. Which 12 forwards and six defensemen give us the best chance to win tonight, and why? I always start with that question. I know it sounds simplistic. We drill into a whole lot of detail after that, but that's the question that we're trying to answer every single day.”
It's one thing to say that, but it's another to show it. If Morrow continues to play well in Durzi's absence, it will be hard for Sullivan to defend keeping him as a healthy scratch.
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