Cam Talbot Offers Advice to Rangers' Dylan Garand Stepping In for Injured Star Goalie

Columbus, Ohio – Veteran goaltender Cam Talbot, now with his ninth NHL franchise, is offering counsel to New York Rangers' emerging netminder Dylan Garand, who finds himself thrust into a starting role following the season-ending injury to star goalie Igor Shesterkin. Talbot, 39, draws on his own experience from the 2014-15 season when he unexpectedly became the Rangers' primary goaltender after Henrik Lundqvist suffered a neck injury.

"You're never gonna replace Igor. Nobody really can in this league," Talbot told reporters. "You just have to go out there and be you, and the rest takes care of itself." He recalled a similar situation 12 seasons ago when he stepped in for Lundqvist, who missed two months after a puck to the neck required him to get a blood vessel in his neck repaired.

Talbot's performance that season was crucial for the Rangers, then in the midst of a playoff push. He posted a 17-5-3 record in the remainder of the regular season, helping to solidify his career. Now, the 24-year-old Garand is facing a similar, albeit earlier in his career, challenge. Saturday marked Garand's eighth career NHL start and his fourth since Shesterkin's injury, in just the 10th game of the Rangers' current season.

Talbot emphasized the importance of playing his own game rather than trying to emulate the established star. "We don't need you to be Henrik Lundqvist," Talbot recounted being told by the Rangers' former goaltending coach, Benoît Allaire. "We need you to be Cam Talbot, the same guy that's been here for the last two years, and that's good enough."

This advice proved pivotal for Talbot, who, after an initial rough patch, settled into a rhythm. He finished that 2014-15 regular season with a .926 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average. The Rangers went on to reach Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final that postseason, with Lundqvist returning to the net.

Garand, who had shown promise in his initial starts of the 2025-26 season before being pulled in a recent game, has a significant opportunity ahead. With Shesterkin sidelined for the year and Joonas Korpisalo on long-term injured reserve, Garand has the chance to audition for a starting role and establish himself in the NHL. Talbot, who has played for 10 different NHL franchises, sees his own career trajectory as a blueprint, having proven his capability as a starting goaltender in his time with the Rangers.

"I take a lot of pride in a lot of the things that I’ve done over the course of my career," Talbot said, "but obviously that was a big one that jump-started it. Gave the other teams around the league an opportunity to see that I was able to perform as a starting goalie and carry the load for an extended period of time."

He also acknowledged the reality of his situation in New York at the time. "Obviously never wanted to leave New York, but there’s no room to move up there when the King's in front of you."