In the wake of the New York Rangers' recent roster shake-up, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of big names like Pavel Dorofeyev and Alberts Smits. But amidst the commotion, there are a few players who have been quietly working away, their potential often overlooked. These players, though not in the spotlight, are worth keeping an eye on as the season unfolds. Let's take a closer look at four such players and why they might just be the unsung heroes of the Rangers' lineup.
Matt Rempe: The Hard-Working Underdog
Last summer, Matt Rempe was all the rage, his offseason workouts and progress toward becoming an NHL regular documented and dissected on social media. This summer? Crickets. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Away from the cameras and spotlight, Rempe continues to do what he does best: work hard. The fan favorite proved his worth to coach Mike Sullivan right from the get-go in 2025-26, a fourth-line regular throughout the preseason and the first nine games of the regular season. Using his improved skating skills, massive 6-foot-9 frame, and determination to be a more complete hockey player and less of a fighter, Rempe made an impact, especially on the forecheck. That is until he shredded his thumb in his only fight of the season, Oct. 23 against Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks. Rempe had thumb surgery, and then another one after being a shell of his former self in his lineup return in mid-December. Hopefully, that second surgery sets Rempe right for 2026-27 and he resumes his path as an effective, aggressive force. In many circles, Rempe’s been out of sight, out of mind, what with the emergence of Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora, and others, as fourth-line options. But he’ll get every opportunity in training camp to re-establish himself in the bottom six. Personally, I think Rempe's quiet determination and hard work will pay off, and he'll be a key player in the bottom six, especially if he can get back to his aggressive, effective self.
Juuso Parssinen: The Versatile Forward
Last season couldn’t have gone much worse for Juuso Parssinen. He started out 2025-26 as an extra forward on the Rangers roster, though did have three points (two goals, one assist) in the first five games he did get into, which is worth noting considering the team’s scoring struggles and his limited ice-time. But Sullivan didn’t trust him with a bigger role than a bottom-six fill-in, and by late November Parssinen found himself demoted to Hartford of the American Hockey League. Several injuries derailed him in the minors, and he played just 15 games there (seven points; five goals, two assists). Recalled by the Rangers after the Olympic break, Parssinen played six games in March, saw limited ice-time again and didn’t record a point, finishing the season with three points in 20 games. Because he’s 25 years old, can play both center and on the wing, and has 157 games of NHL experience, Parssinen could be a candidate to replace Jonny Brodzinski (who left in free agency) as the 13th forward in New York. That is if Parssinen can win the trust of the coaching staff. In my opinion, Parssinen's versatility and experience make him a strong candidate to fill the 13th forward spot. If he can show consistency and trust in his game, he could be a valuable asset to the team.
Scott Morrow: The Offense-First Defenseman
A year ago, we listed Scott Morrow as the No. 2 prospect in the Rangers organization. But now the bloom is a bit off the rose, as the old saying goes. Acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade last summer, Morrow is an offense-first right-shot defenseman — ideally the puck mover and distributor that Sullivan longed for and said the Rangers needed in his breakup day media availability. It wasn’t that Morrow was awful in his 29 games with the Rangers, but he certainly didn’t distinguish himself as a must in the lineup. When opportunity presented itself, with Adam Fox missing 27 games over two extended injury absences, Morrow wasn’t even trusted by Sullivan to quarterback the top power-play unit, his specialty. Morrow finished with six assists, and was also largely unspectacular in 34 games with Hartford (19 points; five goals, 14 assists). The Rangers appear set on the right side next season with Fox, Durzi, and Braden Schneider, so Morrow could start out in Hartford again. The 23-year-old’s best path to an NHL opportunity, other than injury to one of the regulars, is if the Rangers trade Schneider, which feels unlikely at this point. But a bounce-back season for a young defenseman with his offensive skill set could vault Morrow right back into New York’s long-term future. Personally, I think Morrow's offensive skill set and young age make him a strong prospect. If he can show consistency and trust in his game, he could be a valuable asset to the team.
Urho Vaakanainen: The Versatile Defenseman
Just nine months ago, Urho Vaakanainen was in the Opening Night lineup for the Rangers, this after they moved quickly the previous offseason to lock up the then-restricted free agent with a two-year, $3.1 million contract. He played in the first seven games and 14 of 19 to begin the season before losing his spot in the top-six of the defense corps, replaced by rookie Matthew Robertson. He got into 20 games the rest of the season, finishing with six assists, trusted with only an average of 13:51 TOI over 34 games. Vaakanainen, a first-round pick by the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Draft, remains a decent option as the extra defenseman, but could he surprise and win back a bottom-pair role in training camp? The 27-year-old did play well, helping Finland finish first at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, so perhaps there’s more Sullivan and assistant David Quinn can extract from him next season. But at first blush, he’s an overlooked option because the Rangers added Pettersson to the left side of their defense corps, Robertson remains on the roster, Smits is expected to get every opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL as an 18-year-old, and rookie Drew Fortescue can’t be counted out after a solid nine-game cameo to close out the 2025-26 season. In my opinion, Vaakanainen's versatility and experience make him a strong candidate to fill the extra defenseman spot. If he can show consistency and trust in his game, he could be a valuable asset to the team.
These four players, though not in the spotlight, are worth keeping an eye on as the season unfolds. They have the potential to be the unsung heroes of the Rangers' lineup, and their success could be a key factor in the team's overall performance.
