With Shesterkin, Quick Banged Up, Rangers Recall Dylan Garand

In an unforeseen move, the New York Rangers have called upon the services of their AHL netminder Dylan Garand.

The Blueshirts are going through some tough games right now, and that's no secret, but the players suffering the most are definitely those in the crease, Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. After the surprising mini winning streak the team had without J.T. Miller, they've been outscored 16-7 and outshot 102-65 in their last three games. The hockey hasn't been great, folks, I won't sugarcoat it. But by golly, Shesterkin– and sometimes Quick— is still marching out there night after night, forced to make high-danger save after high-danger save.

After witnessing the relentless pressure the Rangers' netminders have faced, it's no surprise that the goaltending duo is feeling beaten up. It's easy to forget, but Jonathan Quick is a forty-year-old man. The team is sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference, the season is seemingly lost, and realistically, this will probably be the last year the Rangers retain Quick's services. It's time to see if Garand has what it takes to step up as Shesterkin's backup in the NHL.

The former CHL goalie of the year deserves it; he's put in the work in the AHL behind an inconsistent and defensively porous Hartford Wolf Pack team. Sound familiar? He's been waiting patiently for this opportunity. This year, Garand's stats have dipped slightly, sporting a 2.83 GAA and a .896 SV%, which paints a negative picture. However, it's important to remember that the Hartford Wolf Pack are not a good team. They are sitting in last place in their division and, largely because of Garand, are still somehow within striking distance of a playoff spot as their season winds down.

Another key detail about Garand's performance in the AHL is his ability to step up in crucial moments. From what we've observed, Garand definitely has that dog in him. In the Wolf Pack's two underdog playoff runs that upset multiple higher-seeded teams, his GAA was 2.21 and his SV% was .927, with two shutouts in 17 games. The takeaway is that Garand has now played four seasons in the AHL. If he truly has NHL-caliber skill, the Rangers need to learn this, otherwise, he should get that opportunity with another organization.