Dylan Garand, 24, did not win the Rangers’ net so much as inherit it. His path to the Dylan Garand Rangers starting role began with an injury to Igor Shesterkin at Washington that ended the franchise goaltender’s season, and it has continued through a stretch of numbers few backups ever produce, followed almost immediately by the kind of outing that tests whether an opportunity is real or temporary.
Garand finished training camp third on New York’s organizational depth chart. He is only on the roster because no other NHL team claimed him off waivers before opening night, according to the Associated Press. Seven weeks later, he is the Rangers’ primary option in goal, and his performance over the next several starts will determine how long that lasts.
How Garand Got His Opportunity
Shesterkin’s season-ending injury at Washington created the opening, but Garand’s play has kept him in it. Between a late-season stretch last year and this October, he went 5-1-1 in seven NHL appearances through Oct. 14, with a 1.37 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, according to Yahoo Sports. Over his first three appearances this season, he posted a league-best 1.15 GAA and .951 save percentage, per the Associated Press.
That run included back-to-back wins, the second of which came Oct. 13 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Garand stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 4-1 Rangers win, and the home crowd chanted his name during the game, according to Yahoo Sports.
“That felt really good. Honestly, it felt a little weird, it’s typically reserved for ‘Shesty’ so it was a little weird in that sense but it felt so good,” Garand said afterward, referring to Shesterkin by his nickname. “I felt so much support from these fans and it really means a lot to me. I just want to go out there and battle, not just for the guys in the room but for the fans as well.”
The Setback Against New Jersey
Garand’s numbers before facing the Devils on Oct. 17 stood at 2-1-0 with a 1.20 GAA and one shutout, per CBS Sports. That game went differently. He allowed four goals on 13 shots before getting pulled in a 7-1 loss, a result that showed up in a lopsided Rangers defeat built partly on two goals from Luke Hughes.
The sharp contrast between his early-season save percentages and that single outing is the kind of swing that often decides whether a fill-in goaltender keeps the net or gets pulled back into a timeshare. One rough start does not erase six weeks of strong numbers, but it does raise the obvious question of consistency.
What Keeps Him In The Net
New York’s other option remains unavailable. Joonas Korpisalo is roughly a month away from returning from a lower-body injury, according to CBS Sports, a timeline that followed his placement on injured reserve. That absence leaves Garand as the only realistic choice in the crease for now.
The Associated Press reports Garand is expected to remain the team’s choice in net until he shows he cannot handle it, language that reflects a conditional opportunity rather than a settled role. If he continues performing well, he could secure the job as the No. 1 option for the rest of the season, according to CBS Sports.
How The Rangers Have Reacted
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan has noticed how Garand has carried himself through the opportunity, describing his approach as professional, according to Yahoo Sports. Defenseman Adam Fox, the team’s top blue liner, called Garand mentally tough and said he can bounce back from setbacks, per the Associated Press. That characterization will be tested directly in his next outings after the Devils game.
What’s Next
How Garand responds after the loss to New Jersey will say more about his staying power than either of his two wins did. The Rangers’ goaltending picture stays unsettled until Korpisalo returns, which the team’s own injury timeline places roughly a month out. Until then, the net belongs to Garand, with his next few starts likely to shape whether that stays true once Korpisalo is healthy again.
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