Igor Shesterkin Out for Season, Dylan Garand Takes Over in Net for Now
The Rangers lost their most important player for the season. Shesterkin is done, Korpisalo is still out, and Garand has to carry the load.
The New York Rangers have provided an update on the status of star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, and unfortunately, the worst has been confirmed. Shesterkin's season is officially over as the injury he suffered in Friday night's game against the Washington Capitals appears to be as bad as it looked.
Igor Shesterkin is out for the rest of the season, per #NYR
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) October 10, 2026
Shesterkin won't be the only member of the team heading to long-term injured reserve (LTIR), as Joe Veleno will miss the next three months or so with a lower-body injury.
As for the rest of the goaltending situation, Joonas Korpisalo will still be out for another month with a lower-body injury of his own. Spencer Martin, who was day-to-day with an injury, has been cleared and will join the Rangers as Dylan Garand's backup for the foreseeable future.
Some other moving parts for #NYR roster:
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) October 10, 2026
- Joe Veleno is going to be out for at least 3 months with his lower-body injury, so he’s heading to LTIR
- Spencer Martin has been cleared from his injury and is expected to be recalled as the No. 2 goalie
- Cole Beaudoin is being…
The Rangers have also made a series of roster moves with the intention of maximizing LTIR. Cole Beaudoin is being sent down so he can play with the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday night, but he will rejoin the Rangers for their game against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night. In the meantime, Juuso Pärssinen has been recalled.
#NYR are also sending Cole Beaudoin down and recalling Juuso Pärssinen. The move is to maximize LTIR right now.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) October 10, 2026
Pärssinen won’t be practicing with Blueshirts today, but plan is for Beaudoin to play for Wolf Pack tonight and come back up for tomorrow’s game at MSG. https://t.co/lXXCUrzaaL
It's just an absolutely devastating blow, as Shesterkin was off to a remarkable start to the season. Across five starts, he recorded a 1.79 GAA and a .927 save percentage. To top that off, he scored his first career goal, picked up an assist, and won three of the Rangers' four games as they started the season with a 4-2 record. Shesterkin is undoubtedly the Rangers' most important player, and he will be sorely missed for the rest of the season.
Alas, the show must go on, and this will be 24-year-old Garand's opportunity to prove himself as an NHL goaltender. Across two games played with the Rangers this season, Garand has allowed just one goal, coming into the game against Washington cold following the injury to Shesterkin. In his first start of the season, he earned his first career shutout in a win over the Detroit Red Wings. With 33 saves, Garand has a .971 save percentage and a 1-1 record on the season.
Garand will have to keep this up if the Rangers want to have a fighting chance at making the playoffs this season. In the meantime, we wish all the best to Shesterkin in his journey to recovery.
