The New York Rangers are confronting several questions regarding their defensive unit as they emerge from a five-day break without a game. A primary concern is the health of defenseman Sean Durzi, who has taken multiple maintenance days recently and is reportedly "battling through some stuff physically," according to head coach Mike Sullivan.

Durzi has been a consistent presence on the Rangers' blue line, playing in all 14 games this season. However, his ongoing physical issues raise questions about his availability and effectiveness. Adding to the defensive uncertainty, Durzi's usual defensive partner, Marcus Pettersson, has also seen his pairing re-evaluated.

Sullivan split up the Durzi-Pettersson pairing during a recent loss to the Kings, with Pettersson playing alongside Braden Schneider and Durzi paired with rookie Alberts Smits. This marks a departure from their established partnership, which began at the start of training camp. Durzi and Pettersson were acquired in separate trades on July 1, with Durzi coming from the Mammoth in the Vincent Trocheck deal and Pettersson from the Canucks.

Sullivan noted that the Durzi-Pettersson pairing had been "pretty solid" for the first seven or eight games, citing their effectiveness in defending the rush and executing plays out of their own zone. However, the team has struggled defensively, particularly in containing opponents on the rush, which may have contributed to the decision to alter the pairings.

Prior to this, Sullivan had maintained consistent defensive pairings throughout the season, even with players like Scott Morrow and Matthew Robertson on the roster. Morrow has been a healthy scratch for every game, while Robertson has moved between the AHL and the NHL roster.

The team's defensive depth is further tested by the ongoing absence of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who is recovering from a lower-body injury. His eventual return will mean the Rangers will have used at least five goaltenders this season, a mark not seen since the 2009-10 season. This situation mirrors instances from the 2003-04 season, highlighting a period of significant goaltending turnover.

Sean Durzi handles the puck during the Rangers’ loss to the Maple Leafs on Oct. 22, 2026 in Toronto.