Talking Pack: Playing the Waiving Game

Welcome to Talking Pack, a weekly offseason column about the Hartford Wolf Pack, exclusively at Blueshirt Banter. Every week, we'll catch you up on what's going on with the Rangers' AHL affiliate as they prepare for their 30th season in the fall.

Waivers are a requirement in order for NHL teams to fill out the roster of their AHL affiliates. Only players on entry-level contracts can be freely assigned to the AHL without clearing waivers, meaning that any player on their second contract or later must be made available for the other 31 teams to claim.

As teams trim down their roster during training camp, hundreds of players are subject to the waiver wire. Most clear waivers and report to the AHL, but a few are claimed and join a new team to varying levels of success.

Entering the 2026-27 season, the New York Rangers have several players that must pass through waivers in order to be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack. While most would wind up in the Connecticut capital, there are a select few that are attractive claims for the rest of the NHL. Today, we'll take a look at these players and whether they find their way to Hartford or are off to another team.

Most Likely to be Claimed

• G Dylan Garand

Of all the players the Rangers could place on waivers this fall, goaltender Dylan Garand is far and away the one I would anticipate another team claiming. Garand inked a two-year contract extension with the Rangers this summer, but his place on the roster is, as of the time of writing, not a guarantee.

Despite the Wolf Pack's on-ice struggles over the past two seasons, Garand has cemented himself as a quality goaltender and a legit NHL option. In 39 games during the 2024-25 season, Garand posted a 20-10-8 record with a 2.73 goals against average, a .913 save percentage, and three shutouts. He earned Goaltender of the Month honors for December 2024 and a trip to the 2025 AHL All-Star Game that same season.

Garand's AHL figures slipped slightly last season, by his own standards - he recorded a 16-15-2 record with a 2.83 GAA and an .896 SV% - but he was regularly the best player on the ice for Hartford, which included a 12 game stretch from January 31 to March 18 where he did not give up more than three goals in a game.

The former Kamloops Blazer made his long-awaited NHL debut on March 22 and went on to appear in three games for the Rangers, going 2-0-1 with a 1.62 GAA and a .948 SV%. Garand looked like every bit of an NHL goaltender over the cup of coffee.

With solid AHL numbers, a strong NHL stint, and a contract worth just $875k over the next two seasons, Garand would be a hot commodity should he hit the waiver wire. But the numbers alone aren't the main reason I'm conviced Garand would be claimed.

Last fall, the Carolina Hurricanes claimed goaltender Brandon Bussi off waivers from the Florida Panthers. At the time, Bussi had yet to make his NHL debut, spending the past three seasons with the Providence Bruins before signing with Florida in free agency. The Panthers waived Bussi during training camp, and Carolina claimed him. The move ended up paying off, as Bussi put up a solid season before stepping in for Frederik Andersen during the Stanley Cup Final. Bussi won all three games he started, securing the Stanley Cup for Carolina.

Seeing the success that Bussi, a relative unknown, found after being given a shot may cause other teams to look for a similar player this season. Garand, should he end up on waivers, is likely to be that player. There's little doubt in my mind that Garand would be claimed.