“I think [the Rangers] have actually kicked tires on Anthony Stolarz,” Darren Dreger stated on The Ray and Dregs Podcast. “He’s not [on] an expiring contract, but if you’re Toronto, why would you do that? Unless there’s an overpay, they like that combo of [Sergei] Bobrovsky and Stolarz. Sam Montembeault is another one.”

For the time being, the Rangers are content sticking with Dylan Garand as their starter. For now, the rookie is doing a great job. However, sooner or later, adversity will knock on the young netminder’s door, and it remains to be seen how he handles it.

At the end of the day, New York is without Shesterkin as well as Joonas Korpisalo. With no backup plan, Sullivan and the Rangers can’t risk leaving their season hopes in the hands of a still-wet-behind-the-ears Garand. And that isn’t taking anything away from Garand’s great start to the year.

NY Rangers search for contract-year goalies

Although Sullivan has lauded the Rangers’ buy-in after Shesterkin’s injury, it’s clear that this honeymoon period won’t last forever. When New York faces headwinds, who knows what will happen? With Shesterkin out for the year, the Rangers will need a temporary answer in net—one that can help them during the 2026-27 NHL season but can be expendable come free agency. Thus, New York is clearly looking for goalies on expiring deals.

“Obviously Chris Drury is scouring the league, but it’s not with a sense of urgency or desperation,” Dreger stated. “Because they do want to see Garand an opportunity to see if he can run with this a little bit, see what they’ve got in this guy. So now you’re looking at expiring contracts. What about Jordan Binnington in St. Louis? It’s just too early for the Blues to bite on that.”

Garand is playing lights out

There are several directions the Blueshirts can go in their search to bolster the injury-riddled crease at Madison Square Garden. However, they will take their time before making a move. What’s not broken needs no fixing, and Garand, who remains undefeated as a starter in the 2026-27 NHL season, is clearly showing no cracks for Sullivan. At least not yet.

The longer he can keep it up, the longer New York will postpone an urgent move for a goalie (likely one on an expiring contract), and the more convinced fans will become that Garand is a long-term solution behind Shesterkin. That would also raise more question marks around the eyebrow-raising trade for Korpisalo. Rangers fans should know by now, though, that you can’t win them all.

Key takeaways

• Anthony Stolarz has emerged as a potential trade candidate for the New York Rangers.
• Darren Dreger noted Chris Drury is actively scouring the league for goaltending help.
• Rookie goalie Dylan Garand remains undefeated as a starter for the New York Rangers this season.

As much as Garand is enjoying his sudden rise to stardom in the Big Apple and has strung together superb outings, he’s also well aware of the high stakes riding on his shoulders. Garand isn’t turning a deaf ear to Shesterkin‘s injury. He and the rest of the Blueshirts know something is amiss with their star goalie out of the picture for the remainder of the NHL campaign.

“It’s obviously tough when you lose your best player in [Shesterkin] a guy who plays so well for this team for so long and is such a big part of it,” Garand admitted, per NHL.com. “It’s tough. It’s a blow to the group for sure.“

Garand is ready for the challenge

As big an opportunity as it is for Garand early in his NHL journey, the 24-year-old also shed light on how Shesterkin’s injury affects morale in the locker room. For a young netminder with only a few career games under his belt, it’s definitely a tall order for the Rangers’ former fourth-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Regardless, it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before, even in his limited professional experience, albeit now magnified to an unforeseen level. Garand is ready to meet the challenge.

“But it happens sometimes. It’s pro sports, players get injured. I think the guys did a great job of stepping up and we’re going to need more of that for sure,” Garand concluded.

Key takeaways

• Dylan Garand took over as the New York Rangers’ starting goaltender following Igor Shesterkin’s injury.
• Dylan Garand called losing Shesterkin “a blow to the group” after becoming the starter.
• The 24-year-old netminder was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

“I think there’s a maturity to this group,” Sullivan admitted, via Mollie Walker of the New York Post. “I think these guys–they haven’t lost any level of enthusiasm. I think they believe in the team game that we’re trying to build here.”

Sullivan might have hit the nail on the head, and that’s not limited to his lineup decisions but also extends to how he sees the locker room operating on a daily basis. These aren’t the same Rangers from last season. It’s still early in the season, but that much is already clear. However, being without Shesterkin for the long run will truly test New York. So far, so good, but the journey is just getting started.

Sullivan makes top-six change

Although he’s been the team’s leading goal scorer through the first few games of the NHL season, Alexis Lafreniere was demoted to the second line during the Rangers’ 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden.

At first, the decision caught fans at World’s Most Famous Arena by surprise, but Sullivan explained his thought process. “It seemed to work on the very first shift. Obviously, it was a small sample size, but I thought both lines were pretty good. We’ll watch it. We’ll see how it goes moving forward,” Sullivan said.

Even though he wasn’t completely sold on sending Lafreniere down, it made sense as a way to inject some life into a unit that hadn’t had the start to the year many had hoped for.

Thus, Pavel Dorofeyev, who looks a touch off his scoring pace, replaced Lafreniere on the first line. The move paid off immediately. The second line of Tye Kartye, J.T. Miller, and Lafreniere combined for six points as Kartye scored his first two goals of the season, Miller recorded two assists, and Lafreniere had a goal and an apple of his own, proving he can produce regardless of where he is placed in the lineup.

Lafreniere serves as example

Seven games into the season, the trade rumors surrounding the former first overall selection are long gone. Not only that, but Lafreniere’s strong performance after being moved to the second line provides further evidence of Sullivan’s point: the locker room is locked in and committed to the team’s blueprint, with all players are pulling in the same direction.

Key takeaways

• Head coach Mike Sullivan praised the New York Rangers’ maturity despite Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury.
• Alexis Lafreniere was moved to the second line during New York’s 6-2 win over Vancouver.
• Tye Kartye, J.T. Miller, and Alexis Lafreniere combined for six points on the second line.

“Our message is, we keep fighting. It’s a next-man-up mindset,” Sullivan stated, via NHL.com shortly after news broke of Shesterkin’s season-ending, right-knee injury. The Rangers‘ netminder was injured in the team’s 3-1 loss against the Washington Capitals which not only snapped a four-game winning streak but has now put New York’s 2026-27 NHL season at stake.

“Really bad news: Igor Shesterkin is out for the year,” Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported on his X account. And that’s not even the end of the dramatic situation New York is now facing in net.

Sullivan’s heart breaks for Shesterkin

“Couldn’t be more disappointed for ‘Shesty,‘” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan added. “I know how much playing means to him, being part of the Rangers. He’s obviously one of the cornerstones of this organization. I am disappointed for him because he is such a fierce competitor.“

Incredibly enough, Shesterkin’s 2026-27 season came to an abrupt end just four starts into the year. He finishes with a 3-1-0 record, a 1.79 goals-against average (GAA), and .927 save percentage (SV%). Shesterkin scored a goal, recorded an assist, yet didn’t keep a shutout before his season-ending injury.

Korpisalo is injured, too

The Rangers’ trade for Joonas Korpisalo in the offseason backfired as the former Boston Bruins goaltender sustained a lower-body injury before he even made his NHL season debut. Although Korpisalo’s setback provided an early chance for Dylan Garand to prove himself, this isn’t how anybody in The Big Apple would’ve drawn up the situation.

As things stand, Garand is the only healthy option in the team’s goaltending department. According to reports, Korpisalo will remain out for approximately four weeks. Thus, New York’s fate is now hinging on the glove and blocker of a 24-year-old goalie with fewer than 10 NHL games under his belt.

“Expectation is Spencer Martin will be recalled by the Rangers to serve as backup to Dylan Garand tonight vs. Canucks, per source. He was hurt, but has been cleared,” Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported.

NY Rangers face goalie drama

The rumor mill around the Rangers has now gone wild, with many hinting at the possibility of bringing Jonathan Quick (currently employed by the Blueshirts as director of goaltending development) back from retirement. Either way, it’s clear Sullivan and company will make a move for a goalie soon.

Simple back-of-the-envelope math would point in the direction of Connor Hellebuyck, who remains suspended without pay by the Winnipeg Jets, but it’s virtually impossible for New York to acquire a goalie with an $8.5 million cap hit when Shesterkin’s $11.5 million cap hit isn’t going anywhere in the long run.

The Rangers’ playoff hopes are now facing the ultimate test less than a month into the season, and it seems it will all hinge on the skaters’ depth to hold down the fort in front of what will probably be an alternative goaltending tandem for the remainder of the season. How the tables have turned in the NHL—the Rangers have certainly come to find that out.

Key takeaways

• Igor Shesterkin is out for the 2026-27 season after sustaining a lower-body injury.
• Joonas Korpisalo is expected to remain sidelined for roughly four weeks with an injury.
• Dylan Garand is currently the New York Rangers’ only healthy option at goaltender.

“Well, it’s concerning, obviously,” Sullivan said to the press, per NHL.com‘s Tom Gulitti. “He’s an elite goaltender, and you don’t ever want to see anybody get hurt, but, obviously, he’s an important player for us.”

Shesterkin’s talent has led his own head coach to recognize him as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, if not the best. His absence is undoubtedly a major blow to the Rangers.

“He’s a big part of this team, without a doubt,” Sullivan added. “I’ve said it on so many different occasions, he’s one of amongst the best goalies in the world, if not the best. He’s that good.”

An injury that raised concerns

Igor Shesterkin gave Rangers fans a massive scare during Friday night’s matchup against the Washington Capitals after suffering a scary right leg/lower-body injury. In the second period, he awkwardly jammed his right skate into the post while sliding back into the crease and stayed down on the ice holding his right knee in pain.

He couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off to the locker room and didn’t return to the game.

Shesterkin’s impact on the Rangers

The talented goalie was off to an absolute tear before going down, posting a stellar 3-1-0 record alongside a razor-thin 1.79 GAA and a elite .927 save percentage in the early 2026-27 campaign.

The perennial Vezina Trophy candidate was easily the biggest reason New York surged out to a hot 4-2-0 start before dropping a tough 3-1 contest to the Capitals, proving once again that when he’s locked in between the pipes, the Rangers are a force to be reckoned with.

Key takeaways

• Mike Sullivan called Igor Shesterkin’s injury concerning following the loss to Washington.
• Igor Shesterkin suffered a right leg/lower-body injury against the Washington Capitals.
• Igor Shesterkin posted a 1.79 GAA and .927 save percentage before his injury.

Addressing the media after making history to start the NHL campaign, Shesterkin was reminded of the fact that fellow Russian goaltender Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders had scored a goal before. Just like he said before, Shesterkin kept his stance on that goal being awarded to the netminder, proving it wasn’t simply out of envy because he hadn’t scored a goal before.

Now that he has, Shesterkin is still, jokingly, convinced Sorokin’s goal shouldn’t be taken seriously. And Shesterkin should know, because he knows what scoring a goal in the NHL feels like. The Rangers’ star is only one of 18 goalies in league history to experience that feeling. Sorokin is another, but in a different category.

“This one counts!” man-of-the-hour Shesterkin told reporters during his postgame media availability, as reported by Peter Baugh of The Athletic.

Why wouldn’t Sorokin’s goal count?

Contrary to Shesterkin, who pounced on a loose puck in the crease and sent it all the way down the ice and into the Lightning’s empty net, Sorokin’s lone NHL tally was quite different. Sorokin didn’t score a goalie goal; rather, he was credited with a goal.

Playing the Nashville Predators on March 1, 2025, the Preds pulled their goalie down two goals late in the game. Steven Stamkos misplaced a pass toward the blue line inside the offensive zone that ended up in the back of his own net. Because Sorokin was the last Islanders player to touch the puck after making a blocker save, he was credited with the goal.

Just like Shesterkin insists it shouldn’t count, Sorokin had also mocked the Rangers’ goalie after his first NHL goal. Clearly, the friendship between the two runs deep, and they always have the other in mind when accomplishing great feats in their careers.

Iron sharpens iron, and that competitive spirit running through the Russian goalies’ friendship has definitely yielded results.

NHL goalie goals history

Across NHL history, there have been only 21 goalie goals scored by 18 different goaltenders. Ron Hextall, with two, and Martin Brodeur, with three, are the only netminders to score more than once.

Of the 21 goals, 13 were scored intentionally by the goalies shooting at the empty net, while the rest, including Sorokin’s, were credited to them because they were the last player on the scoring team to touch the puck.

Key takeaways

• Igor Shesterkin scored a goal during the Rangers’ 5-1 home-opening win over Tampa Bay.
• Ilya Sorokin previously earned a goal credit after Steven Stamkos scored an own goal.
• NHL history features 21 goalie goals scored by 18 different netminders overall.

On that note, Sullivan made something clear about how the Blueshirts plan to use Igor Shesterkin, Joonas Korpisalo, and Dylan Garand going into the new season. Most NHL clubs employ two goalies on their active roster, but the Rangers may not follow suit. In fact, Sullivan all but confirmed New York will resort to a rather uncommon option, at least to start the campaign.

“Sure. Is it ideal? My experience has been, in the long term, no. But… I’ve been in circumstances over the years where (keeping 3 goalies) has been the case. I think it’s very manageable in the short term,” Sullivan said after Day 1 of training camp, via Newsday Sports‘ Colin Stephenson.

Sullivan lets Rangers know right away

One thing Sullivan has clearly learned during his years in the NHL is that speaking candidly and straightforwardly may only hurt at first. In the long run, it’s always better than the alternative: straddling the fence. Thus, right from the get-go, he made the goaltenders at Madison Square Garden aware of what will go down during the 2026-27 season—or at least to start things off.

Things might change, injuries may come up, and no one can tell what the future will bring. For now, though, Sullivan is inclined toward rocking a rare three-man goaltending room. He made that intention clear right away after Day 1 of the Blueshirts’ training camp. Don’t go crying to Sullivan later.

Sullivan (sort of) kept three goalies last season, too

Though in a slightly different context, Sullivan did roll with a three-man goaltending department in the final stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season. Shesterkin and Garand were part of the mix, with Jonathan Quick completing the trio. Following Quick’s retirement late last season, New York went after Korpisalo via trade with the Boston Bruins.

Things were different last season, however. Garand only played three games, too, so it wasn’t as if he was a main part of the rotation. Shesterkin will remain the starter. There’s no doubt about it. As for Korpisalo, he is expected to be the primary backup, filling in to give Shesterkin a rest. But Garand will compete for that role in a bigger capacity in 2026-27.

Contrary to last season, though, when Garand was a wet-behind-the-ears prospect who had yet to debut in the NHL, the 24-year-old netminder will now demand more responsibility, or so the Rangers hope. The former fourth-round pick’s development is a priority for the Broadway Blueshirts, so expect him to get more nods at the crease.

NY Rangers must develop Garand

As confident as they are in Shesterkin and that he’s in the Big Apple to stay, the Rangers must develop a young goaltender at some point. They need someone who can grow into a fringe starter, at least. If Garand doesn’t pan out, Callum Tung is next in line, but New York will first see how much juice it can get out of the Victoria, BC, native before moving on to the Port Moody, fellow British Columbian kid.

“With Shesterkin and their defense, I think they’re going to be competing for the Jennings Trophy for the lowest goals against in the league. That’s what, to me, it looks like the Rangers are trying to do this year,” former NHL goalie Martin Byron stated on Rangers Recon podcast.

Whether the Rangers can truly become one of the NHL‘s best teams at shutting down opponents during the 2026-27 season may ultimately come down to Shesterkin’s performance. And if Sullivan and company want this blueprint to work over the long term, they need their star goaltender to be certain he wants to see out his contract in Manhattan.

Shesterkin’s future

So far, so good, but the speculation surrounding Shesterkin’s future remains loud, and another disappointing season may be the final straw for him. Shesterkin is entering the second year of his eight-year, $92.48 million contract.

On paper, being signed through 2033 on the richest contract ever handed to an NHL goaltender should leave little doubt that the Russian netminder is in New York City to stay. However, crazier things have happened, and if Shesterkin decides he wants out of New York, he can choose his destination thanks to his full no-movement clause (NMC).

A franchise like the Florida Panthers has long been mentioned as a potential landing spot, and if things don’t improve for the Rangers anytime soon, Shesterkin may very well decide to find out whether the grass really is greener elsewhere.

NY Rangers’ new defense

As badly as things went for the Blueshirts last season, they still finished in the upper half of the league in goals allowed. New York ranked 15th after allowing 249 goals in 82 games, or an average of 3.04 goals per outing.

Obviously, the fact that the Rangers ranked 10th worst in goals scored (2.87 goals per game) didn’t help and goes a long way toward explaining why they lost far more games than they won.

Heading into the 2026-27 campaign, however, things are looking up. New York’s revamped defensive corps includes Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, Marcus Pettersson, Sean Durzi, Braden Schneider, Urho Vaakanainen, and Matthew Robertson. Moreover, Vincent Iorio (RFA) and Alberts Smits (No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft) could also be added to the mix.

NY Rangers have high hopes

That blue-line core, combined with Shesterkin as the starter, Joonas Korpisalo filling in when needed, and Sullivan behind the bench, could very well set the Rangers up for a strong season.

The retool may hit paydirt right away for Chris Drury and company, but it may all hinge on New York becoming a defensive powerhouse, with Shesterkin serving as the cornerstone. Otherwise, it could all come crashing down like a house of cards.

According to an article published by Göteborgs-Posten, a Swedish newspaper, Frölunda HC netminder Tobias Normann is in negotiations to sign with the Rangers. However, a source close to the NHL club in Manhattan has denied the claim.

“Hearing this report is false,” Mollie Walker of New York Post stated on her X account. Although the Blueshirts are often considered among the teams in the goaltending market, Normann may not be on Chris Drury, Mike Sullivan, and New York’s radar.

More about Normann

Born in August 2001 in Fredrikstad, Norway, the 24-year-old netminder signed with Frölunda HC ahead of the 2024-25 season. So far, the 6-foot-1 goaltender has appeared in 46 games for the club in the SHL. Through two seasons in the league, he has posted a .917 save percentage (SV%), 1.93 goals-against average (GAA), and three shutouts.

Normann is coming off an impressive 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded a .923 SV%, 1.68 GAA, and a 14-10-0 record, according to Elite Prospects. In the playoffs, he appeared in five games while posting a .933 SV% and 1.33 GAA. Despite his strong numbers, Frölunda was eliminated in six games during the quarterfinals.

Normann has international experience under his belt

Norway’s national team has also taken notice of his production in the Swedish Hockey League, as Normann was named to the preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Normann played for Norway in the 2025 Worlds, but allowed seven goals and finished with a .663 SV% in his latest national team outing.

Perhaps a strong showing at the international tournament is all he needs to wipe the slate clean and convince the Rangers’ front office that he may be a solution to the backup goaltender dilemma in the Big Apple.

NY Rangers’ options in net

With Shesterkin leaving no doubt about his abilities, the Blueshirts can rest assured knowing they only need goaltending depth to man the crease for roughly 30 games during the NHL season. Dylan Garand is expected to contend for the backup role following his promising rookie campaign, but New York will still explore its options.

Most likely, that search will take place in free agency, where the market is expected to be filled with potential backup netminders. If the Rangers believe the answer lies within the organization, they already have four non-roster goalies waiting for their opportunity: Callum Tung, Spencer Martin, Hugo Ollas, and Talyn Boyko, according to PuckPedia.

“I don’t think anybody inside of our dressing room or inside of our organization takes [Shesterkin] for granted,” Sullivan said after the game, per NHL.com. “He’s a superstar goaltender in this league and he gives us a chance to win each and every night with the timely saves that he makes.”

Against the Panthers, Shesterkin did just that. Less than two years ago, these two sides were competing in an Eastern Conference Final. In 2026, they squared off in an authentic tank bowl in the NHL. In the end, New York’s goalie simply wanted the win more.

In addition to a 15-save performance in the first period, Shesterkin came up with clutch stops to stop any attempt of a comeback from Florida in its tracks. New York struck at the right times, but it was Shesterkin who put the Rangers in a position to even be in the game. Hadn’t it been for a fluke goal with less than a minute left in regulation, Shesterkin would have secured his second shutout of the campaign. Still, New York has no complaints about its goalie’s masterclass on home ice.

Rangers start Shesterkin night in and night out

With Jonathan Quick still sidelined with an upper-body injury and rookie Dylan Garand as the secondary option, Sullivan and the Rangers have barely given Shesterkin time to catch his breath in the 2025-26 NHL season. Shesterkin has missed some time of his own throughout the year, though.

As Shesterkin is fully healthy again and on a heater, it makes sense why New York wants to ride out the hot hand. The Russian netminder has been between the pipes in 7 of the Rangers’ last 10 outings. Shesterkin is 3-4-0 in his last seven starts.

What NY Rangers play for in last games of the season

The Rangers are gearing up for their last eight games of the season. The 2025–26 campaign has been a nightmare, and New York can finally see the finish line. With nothing left to play for and fans actually hoping for losses to improve their odds in the NHL Draft Lottery, Sullivan and the team’s mantra are quite the opposite. New York hopes to turn the tide—or at least start to do so—by stringing together strong outings and wins.

The Blueshirts are currently on a two-game winning streak and have won consecutive home games for the first time this season. Perhaps the sun is indeed coming out over the Manhattan skyline for the Rangers, but it’s all still a work in progress.

As the league gears up for the March 6 trade deadline, Sullivan put the Rangers on high alert with a bold message about trade rumors. However, he left Shesterkin out of that picture, as he made it abundantly clear that the Russian goalie is not going anywhere. It is not as if anyone truly believed Shesterkin could be on the move, but Sullivan made sure to leave no room for doubt.

“It’s comforting [to have Shesterkin], I’m not going to lie,” Mike Sullivan said, per NHL.com. “I think he’s the best goalie in the game. Just his compete level, he’s an elite player. So, it’s comforting to have him between the pipes.”

Shesterkin is not going anywhere. Instead, the Rangers will shop other intriguing assets—primarily players with expiring contracts or veterans who could be useful to Stanley Cup contenders, such as Vincent Trocheck, who is drawing strong interest across the NHL.

Could the Rangers trade Shesterkin?

In the NHL, anything can happen—both on the ice and in the front offices upstairs. However, the idea of New York trading away its best talent at a position as pivotal as goaltending makes a move involving Shesterkin unlikely—if not outright impossible.

Moreover, the Rangers’ netminder signed an eight-year, $92 million extension before the 2025–26 season. Why would New York move on from him just months after making Shesterkin the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history?

Even if it wanted to, Shesterkin’s contract includes a full no-movement clause (NMC), so unless the Russian is open to a change of scenery, a deal will not happen. As tough as the 2025–26 season has been for the Rangers, it has not been disastrous enough to warrant a blockbuster move involving Shesterkin. Quite frankly, nothing ever should.