Preseason is winding down, and we’re only four days away from puck drop on October 7th in Pittsburgh. This leads to roster deadlines and final cuts, which exacerbates the problem. The New York Rangers have demoted Scott Morrow and Gabe Perreault to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Gabe was the 23rd overall pick in 2023, a two-time World Juniors champion for the United States and a standout at Boston College. This approach makes more sense than last season, when Peter Laviolette squandered the first year of his entry-level contract only to sit in the press box. In Hartford, he’ll get 20+ minutes a night, prime power-play time, and the opportunity to be ‘the guy’ rather than languishing in the bottom six on Broadway.
The Morrow Mystery:
Morrow had a standout training camp, playing with a poise and puck-moving ability reminiscent of Adam Fox — something no one else on the roster can replicate. Without him, who takes charge of the second power-play unit? Braden Schneider, who’s still up and down? Or Matthew Robertson, who’s still too raw to rely on as a seventh defenseman? Instead of giving Morrow a chance, the team is holding onto depth players like Urho Vaakanainen and Carson Soucy, neither of whom add much upside.
If Mike Sullivan wasn’t planning to play Morrow regularly, then sending him to the minors is understandable. The logic is that he and others are better off getting big minutes in Hartford than sitting in the press box. Injuries will eventually open doors for call-ups, but at some point, this organization needs to stop prioritizing “safe veterans” over developing its young talent. Otherwise, what’s the point of having a deep prospect pool?
Players like Gabe Perreault and Brett Berard belong in the AHL right now — they can earn their way up. But Morrow looked NHL-ready. That’s what makes his demotion the first real surprise of camp.
Opening night coming into focus:
Opening night is shaping up to feature Will Cuylle skating alongside captain J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad on the top line. Artemi Panarin is once again expected to play with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière, with the two top units potentially swapping responsibilities throughout games.
The third line consists of Juuso Parssinen centering September standout Noah Laba and Taylor Raddysh, while the fourth line includes Adam Edström, Sam Carrick, and Matt Rempe. Connor Sheary and Jonny Brodzinski are expected to serve as the extra forwards. On defense, Vladislav Gavrikov pairs with Adam Fox, Carson Soucy lines up with Will Borgen, and Urho Vaakanainen joins Braden Schneider, leaving Matthew Robertson as the likely seventh defenseman. In goal, Igor Shesterkin takes the starter’s crease, backed up by veteran Jonathan Quick.
Looking at the bigger picture, the Rangers boast a top-20 prospect pool featuring Scott Morrow, Gabe Perreault, Brett Berard, and Brennan Othmann — all expected to play together in the AHL. The group also includes Laba, last summer’s draftee Malcolm Spence, and Drew Fortescue. Many of these young players are nearing NHL readiness, but the concern lies in the mix of quality versus quantity. Outside of Perreault and Morrow, most project more as depth contributors than game-changers — not ideal for a team aiming to rebound from a missed playoff berth. Spence brings intrigue, but he remains a college prospect for now.
Even so, there’s a sense of renewal in the air. Much like in 2023, the drive and hunger have returned under a new head coach after last year’s struggles. Mike Sullivan’s energy feels like a refreshing shift, and the team’s roster decisions appear built to endure the grind of an 82-game season. Any doubts about those choices likely reflect the tug-of-war between the fan and the journalist within me.