How Mike Sullivan weighs ‘balancing act’ with Rangers youngsters
The question asked to Mike Sullivan on Thursday morning was about Scott Morrow. But the coach’s answer pertains to each of the New York Rangers prospects and younger players.
To paraphrase the question: if one of the kids lands a spot on the Rangers roster, does that mean he needs to play regularly as opposed to spending the bulk of his time watching from the press box as an extra and healthy scratch?
Again, the question was specifically about Morrow, the 22-year-old defenseman getting a long look to possibly earn a spot on the bottom pair in New York. But it applies to young forwards Gabe Perreault and Noah Laba, still here trying to earn a spot in the lineup, and Brennan Othmann, who already was assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League earlier in the week.
“My experience tells me there’s no one right way or wrong way to do things,” Sullivan explained. “I think every player is unique and I think all players need to be handled on a case by case basis … and then we try to make the best decision for the both the player and the organization. Usually, they go hand in hand.”
Sullivan acknowledged “it’s hard [for a young player] to get better on the sidelines.” He added that some youngsters can be put right into the NHL fire “and never look back.” However, others may need to go through a “process” before ascending to the NHL.
Othmann appears to be such a case. Sullivan explained earlier in the week that the 2021 first-round pick needs to improve his two-way game, especially “on the defensive side of the puck.” So, Othmann will work on those things and play big minutes in the minors to start the season.
On Tuesday, the coach emphasized that the roster isn’t” set in stone” and it remains “fluid” throughout the season. Translation: a demotion doesn’t need to come with any finality at all.
“That’s part of the balancing act,” the coach said. “The question I think we’re all trying to answer is what path is best suited for a young player so that the young player can become the impact player we hope they can be in the most expeditious fashion?
“So, we can just throw guys into the lineup and say ‘Go figure it out.’ Or we can try to be a little more calculated and more proactive in trying to influence that development process, so that player progresses in the most optimal way.”
Scott Morrow trying to crack Rangers defense corps at ‘hardest position to play’ in NHL
Morrow, Perreault, and Laba each is in the lineup Thursday, when the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils in a preseason contest. Laba is trying to beat out Juuso Parssinen for the 3C role, and leads the Rangers with five points (one goal, four assists) in four preseason games. Perreault has two goals and an assist in four games, looking to prove he’s worthy of a top-nine opportunity in the lineup.
And Morrow? Sullivan had high praise for the highly-skilled defenseman the other day, though it feels like Morrow will start the season in Hartford. Still, the Connecticut native does get another opportunity to impress the coaching staff Thursday against the Devils, including a chance to quarterback the top power-play unit featuring Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, and Vincent Trocheck.
So, we’ll see how his situation shakes out.
When talking about 24-year-old defenseman Matthew Robertson on Thursday, Sullivan emphasized that there’s a steep learning curve for young defensemen in the NHL. Keep that in mind before there’s a decision announced on Morrow.
“I think it’s the hardest position to play in the League,” Sullivan stated. “The goaltending position might be the most important position. But playing defense is the most difficult.”
