New Rangers defensemen Marcus Pettersson, Sean Durzi already building chemistry after trades

Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi got a head start on building a relationship by talking over the phone last week.

Pettersson was in Prague attending former teammate Filip Hronek’s wedding, where he connected with Durzi’s agent, Allan Walsh.

Walsh also represents Hronek, so when he saw Pettersson at the wedding, he made sure to speak highly of Durzi. From there, the two defensemen briefly connected over the phone, discussing their excitement about joining the Rangers and playing with each other after separate trades brought them to New York earlier this month.

Come the start of hockey season, that conversation could be the start of forming a key relationship between Pettersson and Durzi. Though nothing is set in stone, the duo likely will play together in the second pairing, with Pettersson on the left side and Durzi on the right.

Pettersson and Durzi separately spoke with the media Thursday for the first time since their trades.

“It was nice to get a little bit of a head start on that and being able to exchange a few words with each other,” Pettersson said of their phone call.

Their additions are part of an offseason retooling for the Rangers, who have missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons.

General manager Chris Drury’s biggest move was trading Vincent Trocheck after the center spent nearly five months on the trading block, which netted Durzi, prospect Cole Beaudoin and a third-round pick in 2027 from the Utah Mammoth.

Durzi, 27, who is 6-1 and 196 pounds, had five goals and 22 assists in 60 games for Utah last season.

Drury traded a top 10-protected first-round pick in 2030 to the Vancouver Canucks for Pettersson. The trade reunites him with coach Mike Sullivan, who coached him for parts of seven seasons with Pittsburgh before Pettersson was traded to Vancouver, where he spent the last two seasons.

The 6-5, 174-pound Pettersson, 30, said he and Sullivan have a “great relationship” and that the coach’s fast-paced system aligns with his playing style. He is a defense-first defenseman who played all 82 games, recording three goals and 15 assists in 2025-26.

With the Rangers trading Will Borgen to Boston, Durzi likely will slot in behind Adam Fox on the right side and Pettersson will follow Vladislav Gavrikov on the left.

“Marcus and Sean could be a good pair together,” Drury told reporters on July 2.

While the defensemen are unsure whether they’ll play together, they spoke highly of one another. Pettersson mentioned he spoke with former Penguins teammate John Marino — Durzi’s teammate the last two seasons with Utah — who spoke highly of Durzi’s game and character.

Additionally, Pettersson touted Durzi’s skating, his ability to push the puck and the edge he plays with. Durzi spoke similarly about Pettersson and the Rangers’ defense as a whole.

“I know Marcus’ game is incredible,” Durzi said. “You look at this D core — it’s a solid D core. It’s a lot of great players; it’s an exciting D core. I think whatever they have planned for me, I think that’s what I’m willing to do. If I’m lucky enough to play with Marcus, then I think it’s an exciting pair.”

After helping Utah reach the playoffs last season, Durzi was surprised by the trade but noted that hockey is a business.

On the other hand, Pettersson leaves a Canucks team that failed to make the playoffs in both of his seasons with them. He waived a no-movement clause to facilitate the trade to the Rangers. He said the trade happened quickly and waived his NMC because he grew up idolizing the Rangers as an Original Six team.

After their trades, Pettersson and Durzi expressed optimism that the Rangers will snap their two-year playoff drought.

Pettersson said the expectations and vibes are high, noting that he knows what the city can be like after watching the Knicks win their third NBA title. Durzi said the Rangers have a good mix between veteran and young talent, making it an exciting group to be a part of.

In the end, their goal is simple.

“It’s win a Stanley Cup,” Durzi said. “That’s why we show up every day.”