Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
When the New York Rangers traded K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, the return included a 2026 conditional first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow — himself, a second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Though the Rangers were thrilled to add a pair of premium picks in what’s expected to be a loaded draft next year, don’t sleep on Morrow.
Popular NHL reporter Jonny Lazarus has been riding the Morrow bandwagon since the latest Rangers acquisition starred at UMass, averaging nearly a point per game over three seasons in college.
“I was on the record saying’s he’s like the Jack Eichel of the blue line — that kid moves,” Lazarus said on the Buds Mafia podcast. “He’s still got a lot to learn, but he’s matured a lot over the past few years.”
That’s a wild comparison. But does speak to the potential of the highly skilled Rangers defenseman prospect.
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Scott Morrow was standout at UMass, prompting big expectations for Rangers prospect
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Before turning pro, Morrow built an impressive resume at UMass and was an elite offensive defenseman. Over three seasons with the Minutemen, Morrow tallied 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 109 games — the second most by a defenseman in program history.
He entered the spotlight in 2021-22, leading all Hockey East defensemen in scoring and was the first freshman in school history to be named a First Team All-American. His 13 goals and 33 points put him among the top-scoring defensemen in the nation.
Morrow followed that up with two more dominant seasons, recording 31 points as a sophomore and 30 as a junior. By the time he left UMass, Morrow carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic puck-moving defensemen in college hockey.
Scott Morrow’s transition to professional hockey
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Morrow turned pro in April 2024 and made his NHL debut late in the 2023-24 season, appearing in two games with the Carolina Hurricanes, logging over 35 total minutes of ice time. Though he posted a minus-4 outing against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it gave Morrow his first exposure to the NHL game.
His first full season as a pro was in 2024-25. He had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games with Chicago of the American Hockey League. — earning him a spot on the AHL Top Prospect Team. He was third among all rookie defensemen in scoring and second in goals scored.
Though his offensive numbers stood out, Morrow also showed growth in managing zone exits, absorbing contact, and learning to defend against pro opponents. His overall game earned him a another look at the NHL level. Morrow appeared in 14 games with the Hurricanes last season, recording one goal and five assists, and averaging just over 15 minutes TOI.
He made his postseason debut shortly after, skating in five Stanley Cup Playoff games against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Pressed into duty because of injuries sustained by Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker, Morrow didn’t record a point and struggled defensively as the Panthers too that best-of-7 series in five games, en-route to winning their second straight Stanley Cup championship.
Now entering his first season with the Rangers, Morrow will have a chance to compete for a roster spot out of training camp — likely in a sheltered third-pair role on the right side. With Braden Schneider eyeing a top 4 role, and possibly shifting to his off (left) side of the defense corps after adding Vladislav Gavrikov, the door could be open for Morrow to make an early impact.
He still has plenty of room to grow, but if Morrow continues to trend upward, the Rangers may have landed something special in the Miller trade package.
Ryan is a communications major at Penn State University and a current intern with Forever Blueshirts. A lifelong New … More about Ryan McInerney
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