Opportunities come and go pretty fast in the NHL, and a little over a year ago prospect Scott Morrow was new to the organization as part of the return headed to New York as part of a deal that sent K'Andre Miller to Carolina. Expectations were high for the young puck mover who was a regarded youngster in the Hurricanes organization, and it is safe to say that things have changed with Morrow signing a one-year, two-way contract which strongly suggests he's Hartford bound.
Morrow on the wrong side of a numbers game
Adam Fox's injury last season created the perfect opportunity for Morrow to step up and show what he could do. No one can truly replace Fox, but Morrow's puck moving ability and offensive know-how made him a great candidate to temporarily fill in. The Rangers opted to give Braden Schneider that assignment, one he failed greatly, and Morrow ended up spending most of the season in the AHL.
Schneider was brought back on a one-year deal, Sean Durzi was acquired, and with Alberts Smits likely to push for a spot in training camp, Morrow's lone shot of making the team as an extra looks less and less likely.
Beyond that, the Rangers also have Drew Fortescue as an interesting young prospect who is known for his puck moving prowess, and there's also Vincent Iorio who was claimed off waivers earlier this year and is still an unsigned restricted free agent.
Perception vs. reality clearly at play in New York
Morrow didn't have an impactful season on Broadway during the nearly 404 minutes he logged at 5v5. The NHL is very much a "what have you done for me lately" league, and he had just six assists in his 29 games with the varsity squad. In Hartford he scored five goals and added 14 assists for 19 points in 34 games which was down from the 39 points he had in 52 games the year prior.
From an underlying metrics standpoint, Morrow had a paltry 42.51 GF% which was last among blueliners. However, he also had a 49.11 CF%, and a 48.84 xGF% which was fourth and fifth-best respectively per Evolving-Hockey. This is enough for Morrow to get another chance at the NHL level, and it is more plausible that he needed more time to adjust to a new system and organization.
Whether or not that opportunity comes remains to be seen. If he starts the season in the AHL, he will need to clear waivers. It is possible an organization that is a little more analytically inclined than the Blueshirts could try and snatch him up, especially given his two-way contract. It would still be a bit of a gamble since he'd need to be assigned to the main roster right away, but far worse players have been given extended chances before.
The regular season is quickly approaching, and the Rangers' general roster framework is pretty much set. Training camp is bound to feature a number of interesting roster battles, and it will be interesting to see if this deal serves as a little bit of extra motivation for Morrow to try and claim a spot, but that may not end up mattering since it feels like the Rangers have made up their mind and rate him as a depth option. Stay tuned for more on that front in the coming weeks.
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