Per Colin Stephenson, rookie defenseman Drew Fortescue debuts tonight at MSG against the Chicago Blackhawks. Fortescue signed his ELC with the Rangers last week, but head coach Mike Sullivan wanted him to get a few practices in before getting some game action. Given how shaky Vincent Iorio has looked since claiming him off waivers, it’s safe to say he will be scratched and Fortescue will be on the third pair with one of Braden Schneider or Will Borgen.
Fortescue, the Rangers 3rd round pick in 2023, finished up his junior year at Boston College, where he was teammates with Gabe Perreault, the Rangers 1st round pick in the same year. Fortescue is a smooth skating, two way defenseman who has a strong first pass and is defensively sound. His most likely projection is as a bottom pair defenseman, with second pair defenseman ceiling.