Scott Morrow spent much of the offseason training at Madison Square Garden’s Training Center, a deliberate choice following a challenging first season with the New York Rangers organization. The 23-year-old defenseman appeared in 29 NHL games during the 2025-26 campaign, splitting time between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He registered the third-most points among Hartford defensemen with 19 and featured regularly in the team’s top four on the blue line.

Despite occasional offensive contributions, Morrow’s time at the NHL level revealed inconsistencies in his defensive play. “I wasn’t as consistent as I wanted to be,” Morrow acknowledged ahead of a recent exhibition game, where he scored the go-ahead goal in a 4-3 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden. He noted that while he still had not played 50 NHL games, he believed he had room to grow defensively and offensively. Improving his skating was a major focus during the offseason, aiming to convert promising moments from last season into sustained, reliable play.

Acquired in the K’Andre Miller trade to Carolina last summer, which involved a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2026 and a second-round pick, Morrow was expected to receive a qualifying offer from the Rangers in June. The team signed him to a one-year, $850,000 contract a few months later. Reflecting on his development, Morrow said he became “a little bit less chaotic” and “somewhat more consistent,” attributing part of his progress to working with local skating coaches during the offseason.

Morrow’s improved skating was evident during the game against the Devils, where he led all skaters in ice time with 25:44. Midway through the third period, he demonstrated better edge control by attacking the net and setting up a key play that gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead. He explained that enhanced skating provided greater confidence in his defensive abilities, allowing him to close down opposing players more aggressively and effectively.

Although most of Morrow’s training camp and preseason experience has been alongside AHL players, he remains in contention for a spot on the Rangers’ Opening Night roster. With Urho Vaakanen waived and assigned to Hartford, Morrow faces competition for the seventh defenseman position, likely battling Matthew Robertson for the role, depending on how the team manages its younger players. The fifth-overall pick in June, Alberts Smits, is a strong candidate for the third pairing and could influence Morrow’s placement at season start. Sending Morrow to Hartford would require waivers, while Smits could begin in Hartford without that procedural hurdle.

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan described Morrow’s rookie season as a “mixed bag,” noting moments of strong play alongside periods of struggle. Sullivan emphasized the team’s need for a defenseman who is defensively reliable yet capable of facilitating puck movement and contributing offensively. He acknowledged Morrow’s offensive potential but stressed the importance of greater consistency to help the Rangers’ transition out of their own zone and support the offense throughout a full season.