​IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectIf their first preseason game and coach Mike Sullivan’s reaction are any indication, the New York Rangers’ defense corps should have a markedly different feel in 2026-27.Sullivan identified puck-moving defensemen as a top offseason need after the Blueshirts finished last in the Eastern Conference and 30th in the overall standings in 2025-26. General manager Chris Drury delivered, acquiring Sean Durzi from the Utah Mammoth and Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in a pair of July 1 trades.The Garden faithful got their first glimpse of the new defense duo in New York’s preseason home opener Tuesday night. The Rangers blew a three-goal lead and lost 4-3 to the New York Islanders, but Sullivan came away impressed with his new No. 2 pairing on the blue line.Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“I think the biggest thing that jumps out to me is our ability to move the puck is much improved,” Sullivan told reporters postgame.The bar for improvement is low. Outside of Adam Fox, there wasn’t much playmaking talent on New York’s back end in 2025-26. Fox was brilliant when healthy, playing at just shy of a point-per-game pace, but health wasn’t on his side. The 2021 Norris Trophy winner missed 27 games across two different stints on long-term injured reserve, and the Rangers struggled mightily in his absence.Durzi and Pettersson, likely to be the second pairing, should help pick up the slack behind Fox and partner Vladislav Gavrikov.“I think ‘Durz’ is a guy — he’s mobile. He gets back to pucks. He can make that first pass, make the outward pass. He has good puck skills,” Sullivan explained. “Marcus is big and long. He’s hard to play against. But Marcus sees the game pretty well, and he has the ability to move the puck also.”Sullivan knows Pettersson well, having coached the Swedish defenseman with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2018-25. Pettersson reached the 20-assist mark three times in that span, including a career-best 30-point season in 2023-24.Injuries have plagued Durzi during his five-year NHL career, but the 27-year-old is an effective playmaker when healthy, capable of creating offense with his stick and his legs.Durzi and Pettersson began training camp on the second pair and remained together during their 2026 preseason debut against the Islanders. Judging by Sullivan reaction, he has no intention of breaking up his new No. 2 pariring.“We’ve talked a handful of times about that particular pair and just being real encouraged with their ability to move the puck, and helping us get out of our end a little cleaner,” Sullivan said. “Also on the offensive blue line, just having the vision to see plays that are there. I think adding those two guys to our defense core just has really improved our ability to move the puck from the blue line.”Really great play here from Durzi. #NYRpic.twitter.com/VnyL6CoPYe— Snark Messier (@SnarkMessier) Septemb