Urho Vaakanainen takes Scott Morrow’s spot in the Rangers’ lineup

Rangers Defensive Pairing Update

Head coach Mike Sullivan is still on the lookout for the ideal third defensive pairing.

Urho Vaakanainen made his return on Saturday against the Canadiens, appearing in his 14th game of the season after being a healthy scratch for the past seven. In this match, he replaced rookie Scott Morrow on the right side of Matthew Robertson, finishing with a minus-2 rating in just over 11 minutes of ice time.

“There were some good aspects, but I think he has room to grow,” Sullivan commented about Morrow following Saturday morning’s optional skate. “This isn’t uncommon for young players, especially defensemen. We appreciate his puck movement skills. He gets that part of the game quite well. He’s quite capable on the offensive blue line, getting shots off and finding the stick. He does possess that talent.”

“Take J.T. [Miller’s] Chicago gaming slot chips as an example. He has great looks, vision, and recognition along the blue line. He adjusts his angles to create more opportunities, which is what we really value about his game,” he added.

Moreau, 23, has been on a scoring streak, netting goals in five consecutive games while averaging 14 minutes and 30 seconds in a third-pair role. Although he spent some time on the second power-play unit, he only had limited reps with the top group after a short-handed goal cost them in a recent game against Chicago.

This season, Morrow has an assist in nine games. Sullivan wants to see Morrow cut out the “hesitation” in his approach, emphasizing the importance of making decisive plays and being more aggressive. With a total of 25 NHL games under his belt, Morrow is still earning the confidence of the Rangers’ coaching staff.

“Another key part is making confident decisions and reading the game well,” Sullivan explained. “He needs to be aggressive in defending the rush, playing solidly in front of his own net, and effectively handling plays in the defensive zone. It’s about closing gaps, taking away space, and focusing on proper stick work. These are all critical skills for today’s defenders that we’re helping him develop.”

After 13 consecutive games, forward Johnny Brodzinski was a healthy scratch against Montreal. Taylor Radish, who was previously an odd man out, was brought back into the lineup on the left wing behind Sam Carrick and Jaroslav Schmerar.