It’s only been one game and there is no cause for alarm just yet. 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. Mike Sullivan has done a lot more with a lot less in Pittsburgh as well. So there is some hope that the Rangers can make it work with both Soucy and Vaakanainen in these key roles, but ideally only one is in the lineup at any given time. The Rangers left defense problem won’t solve itself with the current personnel.

Internal options to address the Rangers left defense problem are limited

The Rangers left defense problem doesn’t have many internal solutions. Perhaps Matthew Robertson can be an answer, but he has shown nothing in the AHL to show us he can step up his game at the NHL level. Think of him as the new-age Libor Hajek, but without being forced into the lineup. The Rangers likely didn’t want to lose him to waivers and also wanted Scott Morrow to get big minutes in the AHL.

Morrow, though, can be a fix to the Rangers left defense problem. He may be a RD, and would likely be the 3RD if and when he gets a call up, but the Rangers can shuffle things around if they aren’t too worried about handedness. Braden Schneider has flirted with the idea of playing left defense, and if he’s unable to pass Will Borgen on the RD depth chart, then perhaps he can get second pair minutes on LD and address the Rangers left defense problem. He and Borgen would be an interesting pair, allowing Morrow to slot into 3RD with one of Vaakanainen or Soucy.

If it’s not Morrow, then perhaps Jackson Dorrington can surprise a few folks. He’s a left defenseman, but he was not ready in camp and it’s unlikely he’s a realistic option to address the Rangers left defense problem at this point.

A trade would be needed

If the Rangers left defense problem starts to get worse as the overall team adjusts and gets better, then a trade would be needed sooner rather than later. October trades are rare, but we could see a November or December trade to revamp the blue line, the second time in two years such a revamp has been needed, but I digress.

Given Brennan Othmann’s struggles, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him dangled to address the Rangers left defense problem. It’s virtually impossible to figure out possible destinations just one game into the season, but there are some interesting names to look at.

Sean Behrens in Colorado is an interesting prospect, a left defenseman taken in the 2nd round in 2021 (Othmann’s draft year). He suffered a torn ACL in camp last year, so this is his first true NHL season. Colorado won’t be looking to trade him any time soon, but if Behrens has some growing pains and their depth scoring needs improvement, then there may be a match here later in the season.

Mario Ferraro in San Jose is the NHL name being linked to the Rangers for the last two years. He would certainly address the Rangers left defense problem, but he’s a pending UFA so there’s risk in both acquisition cost and retainability. Ferraro screams deadline deal, and if Othmann is the piece, then a mid-round pick should be enough to land him. Ferraro may kill two birds with one stone, addressing the Rangers left defense problem and their puck moving defenseman problem.

These are the types of trades we may see Chris Drury look to as he addresses the Rangers left defense problem.

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