New York Rangers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Rangers’ Dylan Garand Can Still Contribute This Season

Dylan Garand, New York Rangers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Rangers’ Dylan Garand Can Still Contribute This Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Brian Abate | Last updated Oct 1, 2026 8:25 AM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The New York Rangers made key changes to their roster this offseason, including trading for goalie Joonas Korpisalo to back up star Igor Shesterkin after veteran backup Jonathan Quick retired. However, 24-year-old goalie Dylan Garand, who is currently with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), can still contribute for New York this season.

Potential to Develop Into a Reliable NHL Goalie

The Rangers made the surprising decision to waive Garand just before the regular season. The move was a risky one, as many teams lack depth at goaltending and there was a chance someone would claim him, but he cleared waivers and was sent to the Wolf Pack.

Garand has spent most of his last four seasons with the Wolf Pack and played very well for them in 2024-25, when he went 20-10-8 with a 2.73 goals-against average (GAA) and a .913 save percentage (SV%). He did not play as well with them last season, finishing with a 16-15-2 record, a 2.83 GAA, and an .896 SV%. However, he did earn a call-up to the Rangers late in the season.

Though Garand only played in three games for the Rangers, he was impressive in all of them. Despite the team getting outplayed badly against the Winnipeg Jets on March 22, he stopped 35 of 37 shots to get them a point, but they lost 3-2 in a shootout. On March 27, he stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, and on April 15, he stopped 29 of 31 shots in a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Garand is not a big goalie at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, but he showed impressive quickness, moving laterally while staying square to shooters. He controlled rebounds well and made timely saves on the penalty kill and in key moments when games were close. The Rangers have a history of developing talented homegrown goalies, and he has the potential to contribute in the NHL both this season and beyond.

Concerns About Korpisalo

The Rangers traded a fourth-round pick and prospect Kalle Vaisanen to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Korpisalo, who is signed through 2027-28. The 32-year-old netminder made his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2015-16 season and has experience as a starter and as a backup.

Korpisalo had a strong season with the Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings in 2022-23, finishing with a .914 SV% in 39 games; however, he has struggled in his last three seasons. He finished with a 21-26-4 record, a 3.27 GAA, and an .890 SV% with the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24. Over his last two seasons with the Bruins, he went 25-19-9 with a 3.03 GAA and an .894 SV%.

At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Korpisalo has ideal size and can make highlight-reel saves, but has struggled with consistency over the last few seasons and has allowed too many soft goals. He has had some great hot streaks, but he has also gone through some extended slumps.

The hope is that new additions like Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi, and rookie Alberts Smits, will help the Rangers improve defensively and protect Korpisalo. However, if he struggles, Garand could get an opportunity with New York. Additionally, Shesterkin has missed extended time with injuries a few times in his career, including in 2025-26. If he misses any time this season, Garand would likely fill in and could earn more playing time if he plays well.

Goaltending Depth Can Be a Strength

The hope is that Korpisalo will provide steady play as the backup this season and step up if Shesterkin misses time. However, if he does not play well, Garand can contribute and give the team a chance to win games. The Rangers gambled by waiving him, but they were able to keep him, and he still has the potential to become a valuable player for them.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: