"The Rangers lost and looked lost offensively, but did a decent job defensively, allowing just one goal with a goalie in net. The slow start was expected, and while there's no need to rush to conclusions just yet, there is one certainty that most can agree on: The Rangers left defense problem can get ugly fast. Beyond Vlad Gavrikov, the Rangers have two bottom pair defensemen (at best) and one C-prospect to fill out the depth."
"All due respect to Urho Vaakanainen and Carson Soucy, but neither are second pair defensemen. Vaakanainen has always been a third pair or 7D, and he's a known entity at this point. Soucy was a top-four defenseman at one point, but it looks like he's lost a step and is struggling to keep up. There will be some improvements as the Rangers as a team adjust to the new coach and system and start to play faster."
The Rangers began the season with a slow offensive showing but defended reasonably, allowing only one goal with a goalie in net. The left-side defensive group lacks quality beyond Vlad Gavrikov, leaving two bottom-pair defensemen and a C-level prospect to cover depth. Urho Vaakanainen projects as a third-pair or seventh defenseman, while Carson Soucy appears to have lost a step and cannot be relied on as a true second-pair option. Internal depth options are thin; Matthew Robertson has yet to prove he can transition from the AHL, while Scott Morrow represents the most promising internal fix. Lineup shuffles and handedness flexibility may be necessary to integrate Morrow or shift Braden Schneider to the left.
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