Garand Rises from Waivers to Rangers' Starting Goalie Amidst Injury Crisis
With Igor Shesterkin sidelined, Dylan Garand steps into the primary goaltending role for the New York Rangers.
Dylan Garand has rapidly transitioned from being on waivers to becoming the starting goaltender for the New York Rangers. This unexpected turn of events occurred within a two-week span, largely due to the season-ending lower-body injury sustained by veteran goalie Igor Shesterkin.
Garand, 24, acknowledged the whirlwind nature of his situation. "I think it’s been 11 days — pretty crazy," he said Saturday after practice. "Sometimes, it’s part of the job. For us as a team, it sucks. You never want to see guys get injured, especially your best player in Igor. He means a lot to the guys in this room, and me personally. At the same time, it’s next man up. That’s kind of my approach here."
He expressed his readiness for the opportunity, stating, "I’m excited for the opportunity, going to put my heart and soul on the line for these guys and this city every night. Just try to help the team win."
The upcoming game against the Canucks will mark only the fifth NHL start of Garand's career. The Rangers appear to be set to rely on him, with Head Coach Mike Sullivan indicating that a trade for an established goaltender is unlikely.
Garand was drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He was among the final cuts in training camp and was placed on waivers on September 27. The team recalled him on October 1, following the placement of another goaltender, Joonas Korpisalo, on injured reserve. Korpisalo is expected to be sidelined for approximately another month.
During three starts last season, Garand recorded a 2-0-1 record with a .948 save percentage. He also achieved a shutout against the Red Wings in Detroit earlier this season and performed competently in relief of Shesterkin during a recent loss to the Capitals.
"Dylan is a great kid. He’s another fierce competitor, he loves hockey, and he has aspirations to play in the NHL," Sullivan said. "He’s a good goalie. Every time we’ve put him in the net, certainly since I’ve been here, he’s made timely saves. He’s given our team a chance to win each and every time he’s been in the net. We think he’s very capable, and he’s going to get an opportunity here."
Sullivan, along with alternate captains Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad, emphasized the team's need to support Garand and ease his transition. Garand appreciated these sentiments, saying, "That’s pretty cool. I really love this group, it’s so fun to be around. For them to say kind words about me, makes me feel good for sure, and makes me want to battle for them even more."