Rangers Make Roster Changes Following Historic Home Shutout Streak
After a frustrating and historic loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the New York Rangers have made a pair of notable roster moves as they look to shake things up.
The Rangers were defeated 2-0 at Madison Square Garden, marking their third consecutive home shutout to start the season — a first in NHL history. In response, the team announced the placement of forward Vincent Trocheck on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) due to an upper-body injury, while recalling defenseman Scott Morrow from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
Trocheck Placed on LTIR
Trocheck was injured during the Rangers’ second game of the season against the Buffalo Sabres, exiting before the third period. Head coach Mike Sullivan later confirmed he was being evaluated for an upper-body issue. The exact timing of the injury is still unclear, but Trocheck had been wearing a full face shield since the preseason after taking a puck to the face during practice.
Signed by New York as a free agent in July 2022, the 32-year-old forward has tallied 579 career points (223 goals, 356 assists) over 803 games. Placing him on LTIR means he’s expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days, a significant absence for the Rangers’ forward group.
Morrow Recalled from AHL
To fill the roster spot, the Rangers have recalled 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow. Acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes in July 2025 (which sent K’Andre Miller to Carolina), Morrow is coming off a breakout season.
He split the 2024–25 campaign between the Hurricanes and the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, recording six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in 14 NHL games, and 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 AHL games. Morrow earned a spot in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic and was named to the league’s Top Prospects Team. He is currently signed to a three-year, $2.75 million entry-level deal.
Offensive Drought Hits Historic Lows
The Rangers’ early-season struggles at home are now part of the NHL record books. They’ve failed to score on their first 90 shots on goal at Madison Square Garden, making this the second-longest home shutout streak to open a season in league history. Only the now-defunct 1928–29 Pittsburgh Pirates went longer without scoring at home. Among current teams, the previous record was held by the 2001 Florida Panthers, who went 155 minutes and 17 seconds without a home goal to begin their season.
As the Rangers search for offensive answers, these roster moves reflect a team trying to find momentum and avoid falling further behind in the early stages of the season.
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