Get to know newest Rangers prospect Scott Morrow after trade with Hurricanes

Yahoo

09-07-2025

Not to be lost in the K'Andre Miller trade Tuesday is that the New York Rangers acquired a top-end prospect from the Carolina Hurricanes to go along with the conditional first-round pick and second rounder in next year's draft.
Scott Morrow is a skilled right-shot defenseman, who will turn 23 in November. The Rangers are getting him at a good time in his development, since he had a strong season in the American Hockey League in 2024-25 and also got his feet wet in the NHL.
Advertisement
There's a chance Morrow could break camp with the Rangers, likely on the third pair if New York shifts Braden Schneider to the second pair on his off side. Even if Morrow — who's still figuring the defensive side of the puck at the pro level — begins next season with AHL Hartford, hockey experts see a bright future for the former NCAA star from UMASS.
Related: Rangers transformation continues with K'Andre Miller trade to Hurricanes: 3 key takeaways
Breaking down new Rangers prospect Scott Morrow
Scott Morrow (RHD): 6 foot-2, 192 pounds
2024-25 Season Stats:
Chicago Wolves (AHL) – 39 points (13 goals – 26 Assists) in 52 games
Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) – 6 points (1 goal – 5 assists) in 14 games
Advertisement
Collegiate Career: 3 years
UMass Amherst – 94 points (28 goals – 66 assists) in 109 games
(Second in program's all-time defenseman scoring list)
Analysis from Elite Prospects NHL Draft Guide
'With constant hip pocket deception, changes of pace, and eyes that never reveal the intended play, he embarrasses defenders. After breaking down a defender, he continues the manipulation to drag over another defender, before rolling his wrists, turning the fake shot into a pass to an open teammate.'
Morrow is a right-handed offensive defensemen that uses his size, poise and slick hands to make plays all over the ice. Solid breakout abilities whether with a pass or weaving through the opposition. Very comfortable grabbing the puck at the blue line, stickhandling right into traffic to create space for his teammates or chaos going to the net to generate a scoring chance. Off the cycle or on the power play, he can be seen opening up for a booming shot from the point or on his offside half wall. That's something the Rangers haven't had consistently for years on the back end. His skating can use some work, especially under pressure in his own end.
While attending the prestigious prep school Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota, with alumni that includes the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and so-on, Morrow put up as many as 48 points his senior year. The North Dakota commit was given two-options heading into his draft year, another year at Shattuck or to go to the USHL. Once the pandemic hit, he decided to stay at Shattuck with his three siblings and mother. With North Dakota still wanting him to play a year in the USHL, he eventually decommitted and took his talents to UMass Amherst as a top prospect.
Selected 40th overall by Carolina in 2021, Morrow became the second highest draft pick to come from UMass, behind Cale Makar. With a father, Steve Morrow, who was a 1987 draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers and uncle, Scott Morrow, who had his own respectable pro career between the NHL and AHL before retiring in 2002, the younger Morrow knew what to expect as he moved through the hockey ranks.
Scott Wheeler of the Athletic listed Morrow as the Hurricanes top prospect last January.
Advertisement
'Morrow was one of the most productive freshmen in college hockey, led the Minutemen in scoring as a sophomore and then had a third straight 30-point season as a junior last year before turning pro. Most importantly, he played better defensively in huge minutes (25 per game) as a junior, taking important steps defensively. This year, as a rookie at the pro level, he has been one of the Wolves' most productive players and has played 20 minutes per game in the AHL.'
After scoring his first professional goal in just his second game with the Chicago Wolves, an overtime winner, Morrow continued to make the transition to the pro level effortlessly, tallying just under a point per game this past season. He scored his first NHL goal against the Flyers on March 15 and added five assists in 14 NHL games. Injuries allowed him to appear in five postseason games with the Hurricanes, where he struggled and the Hurricanes were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final by the Florida Panthers.
Scouts will look to his skating ability that needs work, justifiably so. With that size, if he's able to gain more traction in his first few strides, this will turn him into a more confident defender off the puck in all three zones. That said, his confidence with the puck, especially with pressure on him, makes him someone that may be able to extend shifts and handle a heavy workload without expending much energy as his maturity grows, similar to Adam Fox.
Look no further than Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. He consistently produces big offensive numbers, but can also be caught on the wrong side of the opposition often off the puck due to his positioning, lack of a strong first step in his stride and size to recover. Of course, Bouchard more than makes up for it with his bomb of a shot. Morrow may have a bit of Bouchard in his game.
When you look at the 2023-24 Rangers, perhaps the best value on the squad was Erik Gustafsson. He had confidence with the puck on the back end, a heavy shot from the point, and was someone capable of handling first power-play minutes when Fox was injured.
Advertisement
For this Rangers team, Gustafsson (who also wore number 56) is a guy Morrow should be striving to be in the near-term. Highly effective offensively without having the best skating ability, all while not being a total liability defensively. This should not only temper internal expectations on the young player, but give him a realistic floor to get to playing in a sheltered third pairing role.
The path and talent is there for him to become the Rangers quarterback on the second power-play unit this upcoming season. If not out of camp, shortly after. Patience is the key. The organization has gained a really promising prospect.
Related Headlines