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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers hope Scott Morrow is 2nd defense prospect acquired from Carolina to thrive in New York
Adam Fox and Scott Morrow have more in common than simply being right-shot defensemen for the New York Rangers. Each is a gifted puck mover, who starred in college, and eventually was traded to the Rangers by the Carolina Hurricanes. Their paths to Broadway were a bit different, but still the many similarities make for an intriguing comparison of sorts. Fox was selected by the Calgary Flames in the third round (No. 66 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He had zero intention of ever playing for the Flames, so they traded him to the Hurricanes on June 23, 2018. Less than a year later, Fox was traded to the Rangers. All of this while Fox was still attending Harvard. Don Waddell, Carolina's general manager then, was told by the defenseman's camp that he'd sign with the Hurricanes if they traded for him. Waddell pulled the trigger, sending Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm to the Flames in a deal that included Dougie Hamilton and Fox's rights. But things changed quickly. 'About two week later, the agent called and said, 'We changed our mind. We want to move to the Rangers,'' Waddell said on the Cam & Strick Podcast. 'So obviously, we traded for him thinking he was coming — and he didn't.' Fox returned to Harvard for the 2018-19 season, then was flipped to New York before he could become an unsigned unrestricted free agent out of college. And as Waddell revealed, that history nearly repeated itself with Scott Morrow. WATCH: Familiar situation for Hurricanes Just like Fox, Morrow was a top college defenseman with leverage. And just like Fox, the Hurricanes risked losing him for nothing. 'Last year with Morrow … he was going to graduate earlier, unbeknownst to anybody,' Waddell said. 'If we didn't get him signed before August 15 (2024), he would've been free.' Carolina narrowly avoided a repeat. They signed Morrow and he turned in a solid first season as a pro in 2024-25, largely in the American Hockey League — where Fox never played a single game — and then 14 NHL games. Then on July 1, the Hurricanes moved Morrow to the Rangers as part of the K'Andre Miller sign-and-trade. Not because he demanded it. But because they wanted Miller. Scott Morrow following in Adam Fox's footsteps with Rangers The Rangers have already seen what an elite college defenseman can become in the NHL. In three seasons at Harvard, Fox recorded 116 points (21 goals, 95 assists) in 97 games, and was widely considered one of the smartest puck-moving players — regardless of position — in college hockey. Morrow's path hasn't been identical, but the production is on the same level. Over three years at UMass, he posted 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 109 games. He's second all-time in points by a defenseman in program history. Both players made immediate impacts as freshman. Fox tallied 40 points in his first season, while Morrow broke out with 33 and became the first freshman in UMass history to earn First Team All-American honors. Fox made a seamless jump to the NHL and quickly became a fixture on the Rangers' top-pair. He won the Norris Trophy as top NHL defenseman in 2020-21 and has 361 points (63 goals, 306 assists) in 431 games. Morrow didn't jump straight to the NHL, and he's not guaranteed a roster spot out of training camp with the Rangers either this fall. But there's a good chance that he will land a spot on the third pair and give the Rangers a solid second puck-mover on the blue line. Right behind Fox, that is. He's not exactly following Fox's direct path. But the similarities are there. Related Headlines Igor Shesterkin enters 2025-26 season with $92 million worth of expectations from Rangers Why Dave Maloney believes this X factor with new Rangers coaching staff is 'beneficial' Matt Rempe 'still learning' as he prepares for training camp, Rangers reporter says Why Brendan Brisson is under radar forward option for Rangers: 'Know I can do it'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Get to know newest Rangers prospect Scott Morrow after trade with Hurricanes
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
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scott Morrow ‘going to be really good player' with Rangers, but there's catch: NHL insider
Perhaps the most under-the-radar part of the recent K'Andre Miller trade is that the New York Rangers were able to acquire Scott Morrow, on top of a pair of premium draft picks, from the Carolina Hurricanes. Most of the focus here — and rightfully so — has been on Miller, the 25-year-old top-four defenseman getting traded within the Metropolitan Division, and then signing an eight-year, $60 million contract with the Hurricanes. After that, there's been plenty of talk about the Rangers landing a conditional first-round pick along with a second-rounder in the loaded 2026 draft. Advertisement But no one should overlook the other key part of this trade. Morrow was considered to be Carolina's top prospect in many circles and should turn into a solid puck-moving defenseman in New York's top six sooner rather than later. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is among those who believe the Rangers got themselves a nice player in Morrow. But he also did sound a cautionary note about the 22-year-old's readiness for big-game duty in the NHL. 'I'm not surprised [the Hurricanes] traded Morrow, they've got a lot of D,' Friedman stated on his 32 Thoughts podcast. 'He's young, he's talented, he's going to be a really good player. He wasn't ready for what they do right now. They have a lot of defensemen back there so I'm not surprised they made that deal.' The catch Friedman referred to was Morrow's five-game opportunity in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past spring. With Jalen Chatfield sidelined by injury, Morrow was pressed into duty for the entirety of the Eastern Conference Final, a five-game series loss to the Florida Panthers. As the Rangers are well aware, that's tough sledding for even the most experienced of players, and specifically defensemen in this case. Morrow had a difficult time of it, with the Hurricanes outscored 5-0 at 5v5 with him on the ice. However, the underlying numbers weren't terrible. Carolina had an expected goals share of 55.76 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, and out-chanced Florida 23-16 with the rookie out there. Advertisement Of course all of that comes with a grain of salt. Typically, Hurricanes players have solid impressive underlying metrics, based on the team's play style. The eye test against the Panthers wasn't so pretty. Related: Get to know newest Rangers prospect Scott Morrow after trade with Hurricanes Scott Morrow underrated trade acquisition by Rangers David Kirouac-Imagn Images Nonetheless, the Rangers have themselves a really promising defenseman prospect in their fold now. After starring collegiately for three years at UMASS, Morrow had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games with Chicago of the American Hockey League last season. He didn't look out of place when called up by the Hurricanes; Morrow had six points (one goal, five assists) in 14 NHL games late last season. Advertisement Morrow's got good size (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and an above-average skill set offensively. His defensive game remains a work in progress. But if he can handle third-pair minutes defensively, Morrow would give the Rangers a really good option as puck-moving defenseman behind Adam Fox, both at even strength and on the power play. If Morrow proves himself ready to go on the right side in training camp, the Rangers could move Braden Schneider to his off (left) side to help form a shutdown second pair with Will Borgen. This trade will largely be deemed a success or failure for each side based on Miller's growth and play. He's the best player in this trade right now — barring New York landing a stud or two with those two picks in next year's draft. 'The Hurricanes were willing to take a bet the Rangers weren't,' Friedman explained. 'The Rangers weren't willing to go long term with Miller. They were only willing to go, I think, a couple of years. Obviously, Carolina was not afraid of that. We'll see how that works long term. Who made the right bet?' Advertisement That's the biggest question right now. But don't discount Morrow being able to tip the scales in New York's favor when it's all said and done. Related Headlines
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carolina Hurricanes 2024-25 Exit Interviews: The Rookies
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season came to a close earlier this week as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. On Friday, select players met with the media in Raleigh for their end-of-season interviews. Advertisement Here's the interviews from three of the team's rookies: Alexander Nikishin, Scott Morrow and Logan Stankoven. Alexander Nikishin (via Andrei Svechnikov) On what the experience of being in the NHL has been like so far: He said that he got a big experience. He's going to know now what to expect next season. He's very happy he came and played right now in the playoffs. On what he feels like he does well already at the NHL level and what he feels he needs to work on: He said that he doesn't want to mention the things skill wise because he saw the guys how they played, how they've been professionals and he said he just wants to try and catch them and try to be better than those guys. On what his plans for the summer are: He said that he thinks he's going to go home very soon. He's going to come back a couple weeks before training camp starts. Being here will help him. On what he's learned about the area and the organization so far: He said that we were here and that we helped him out a lot. He got to know about the city and area really quickly because we helped him a lot. That was it to be honest. On what it was like making his NHL debut against Alexander Ovechkin: He said that was an amazing experience and he didn't really understand in the moment what was happening. On being asked for one comment in English: Have a good summer. While Svechnikov's translation may not be the perfect reproduction of Nikishin's words and thoughts, here's a translation from user @Uggg_uggg on X that appears to make Nikishin's comments much more clear. 'A Tremendous Experience': Alexander Nikishin 2024-25 Exit Interview 'A Tremendous Experience': Alexander Nikishin 2024-25 Exit Interview The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season Advertisement came to a close earlier this week as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Scott Morrow On how difficult it was getting thrown right into the series with Florida: It was really hard, fast hockey. I mean, they're three time finalists in a row for a reason. Really good team and it was a fast, physical series. I don't know how I'd quantify how hard it was, but it was certainly a lot of fun and I'm glad I got that opportunity. On what he learned from experiencing playoff hockey at that level: Just how simple their team played is why they had success. All their defensemen were big and could skate and our defensemen who played well that I could look up to against that and against their forecheck. Moving their feet and played physical and I think those are the two biggest things I need to work on. Being a little more physical and getting a little faster. On what he wants to focus on in the offseason: Just first and foremost, working on my skating and then trying to get a little bit stronger so I can be more physical, especially in the defensive zone. I mean, I still feel like, physically, I have a lot of room to grow and in terms of my body, I'm still a young kid. I think there's definitely more I can add as far as just off the ice and in the weight room So that will be a lot of my focus. On what were his biggest lessons from his first professional season: First of all, it was long. Twice as many games as I've ever played in college. I got called up at the right time where you're kind of hitting that late year and that gave me a lot of energy getting to come here. That was obviously very exciting, but just finding a way to maintain peak condition throughout such a long season where you're playing so many games, I think is definitely a challenge for everybody. It's something that I've never really had to deal with on this level. You're playing every other day and you have to find time to maintain what you've built all offseason and in the weight room. So that's something that I think is definitely a challenge, especially when I'm not just trying to maintain, but get stronger and quicker and all that because I still have room to grow. So that was probably the lesson that stands out the most. And then just how pro hockey and college hockey are such different styles. So just adapting. Every single game in college is very structured and physical and here, there's so many skilled players that you're defending and you have to read and react more than I thought I did in college. So jut working on that and learning how to do that was something I felt grew over the course of the season. 'I Have A Lot Of Room To Grow': Scott Morrow 2024-25 Exit Interview 'I Have A Lot Of Room To Grow': Scott Morrow 2024-25 Exit Interview The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season Advertisement came to a close earlier this week as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Logan Stankoven On what he's learned about the organization: First class, for sure. I've enjoyed every minute of being here and the people within the organization and my teammates. I think I've been able to create a really good bond with everyone here. I love the city and just kind of the vibes around it. Looking forward to hopefully spending a lot more time here. On how long it took for him to adjust and feel like he was at home: I'd say about a couple weeks. Once you get settled in and become comfortable with the guys around you and your surroundings and how to get to the rink and whatnot, you settle in. I've loved every minute of it, which I've said before. I'm excited for what's to come. On what the summer will look like for him: A lot of hard work, that's for sure. For me, over the next couple of weeks, it's just going to be taking a step back, relax a bit, kind of recover and then from there, it's back in the gym and getting back on the ice again. Definitely going to look to get a bit stronger and faster of course. I think the game's getting a bit faster each year, so for me being a smaller guy, I think that's huge. Just keep working on the fundamentals and my craft. I think working on my shot is huge. A little bit of lower-body strength and whatnot. That'll be huge this summer. As much as it's tough losing now, once you sit back and look at the summer, I'm excited for the work to be put in and I'm already looking forward to next season and the future. On his fit: A lot of guys have said this, but being an opposing player, it's tough to come in here and play. The aggressiveness and the fans and how loud it gets in here, I enjoyed it as a player, but I think as a team, it's tough when the Canes get rolling. There's so much momentum in this building when they get going. To be on the team now, you really feel it and it's good to be on the positive side of it. It's a great place to be. 'I'm Excited For What's To Come': Logan Stankoven 2024-25 Exit Interview 'I'm Excited For What's To Come': Logan Stankoven 2024-25 Exit Interview The Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season Advertisement came to a close earlier this week as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. 2024-25 Exit Interviews Jordan Staal Sebastian Aho Jaccob Slavin Jordan Martinook Jalen Chatfield Sean Walker Jesperi Kotkaniemi Frederik Andersen Seth Jarvis Andrei Svechnikov Alexander Nikishin Scott Morrow Logan Stankoven Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hurricanes Reveal Big Injury Update on Jalen Chatfield
The Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. Despite playing the game at home, Carolina wasn't able to muster up the same energy as the defending champions to get the win. The Hurricanes will have a big chance to tie the series in Game 2, but they could be forced to do so without one of their stars. Defender Jalen Chatfield missed Game 1 due to injury and is now in danger of missing Game 2 as well. Advertisement Chatfield is being listed as questionable for the game due to a nondisclosed injury. The defender was on the ice for the Hurricanes' morning skate, but will need to be cleared to play. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour gave more of an update on the status of his star defender. 'All the athletes want to play; if they're not capable, they're not capable,' Brind'Amour said. 'I think today he is better. I would put him more day to day now, so that's a good sign.' Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) at Madison Square Cruz-Imagn Images The Hurricanes missed his presence on the ice against the Panthers, so the hope is that he can return in Game 2. Chatfield has scored one goal over the nine playoff games for the Hurricanes this postseason. Advertisement During the regular season, he scored seven goals and 11 assists. But his defensive abilities are crucial to the success of this team. If he can't go, others will need to step up in his absence. Scott Morrow took over for him in Game 1 and posted a -3 rating in 12 minutes of game action. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, at 8 p.m. ET. Related: Sharks Predicted to Land $42M Star in Free Agency Related: Max Pacioretty Responds to Matthew Tkachuk Wild Claim About Maple Leafs
