Rookie Rangers goalie ‘hungry’ for 2026-27 after acing 1st NHL test
Dylan Garand finally had a taste, albeit a small one, of playing and succeeding in the NHL with the New York Rangers down the stretch of this season. So, let’s just say the 23-year-old goalie is pretty determined to earn a permanent role with the Rangers, and not head back to the minors in 2026-27.
“I’m definitely hungry to play in this league, and for this organization,” Garand said at Rangers breakup day Friday. “It’s very motivating for me going back [home] in the summer. To be here and see what it takes. Now I know what I need to do this summer to come in and be prepared to put my best foot forward and execute.”
Six years after the Rangers selected him in the fourth round (No. 103 overall) of the 2020 draft, Garand finally made his NHL debut in the latter stages of this season, his fourth in professional hockey. And he made the most of his opportunity.
Garand started three games and sparkled on Broadway. He was 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and .948 save percentage, Garand stopped 35 of 37 shots in his debut, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on March 22. Garand was named the First Star of the game, as he was in a 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks five days later.
He then closed out the regular season with 29 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Lightning in Game 82.
“It was great, such a good experience,” Garand explained. “Obviously, waited my whole life for an opportunity like this and, yeah, it was everything I dreamed of. Learned a lot, and just great to be around the guys and just be here and get that experience and get to play.”
But now he wants to stay and be Igor Shesterkin’s backup next season.
Dylan Garand confident he can stick with Rangers as Igor Shesterkin’s backup
The Rangers rarely give young players the chance to win their backup goalie job. But Garand could be an exception.
Veteran Jonathan Quick announced his retirement last week, after playing the final three seasons of his stellar 18-year career with the Rangers, leaving the No. 2 spot behind Shesterkin open. Garand is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, due a raise from his $775,000 deal this season, but should be an inexpensive option, and alternative to Shesterkin’s massive $11.5 million salary-cap charge.
“I just want to be here,” Garand said. “I wanna win, and I know this organization just wants to win. I’m definitely happy with the opportunity I got, and I wanna be here.”
Alexandar Georgiev was 22 in his first full season as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup in 2018-19. And then he and Shesterkin were the young goalie tandem the next three seasons. Before that, Cam Talbot, then 26, earned the call-up from Hartford of the American Hockey to be the No. 2 behind Lundqvist in 2013-14 after Martin Biron abruptly retired.
Other than those instances, it’s been by and large veteran goalies serving the role as backup to the established No. 1. But Garand may buck that trend, and clearly made a positive impression these past few weeks.
“He’s awesome,” Shesterkin said of Garand. “He worked hard. He’s a pretty good guy in the locker room. I think he’s gonna have a bright future.”
The Rangers will likely bring in a veteran to challenge Garand, who struggled a bit in the minors this season after being named an AHL All-Star in 2024-25. But the youngster is confident he’ll fend off any competition next fall to land a full-time role in New York.
“I just believe in myself so much,” Garand said. “I know what I’m capable of, and i know how hard I work, day in and day out. Like I said, I’m hungry to be here, and it’s an exciting opportunity moving forward.”
