Why no guarantee Rangers rookie plays despite Jonathan Quick injury
With Jonathan Quick sidelined by a lower-body injury, Dylan Garand is now up with the New York Rangers as their No. 2 goalie. But that doesn’t mean the rookie is guaranteed to make his first NHL start any time soon.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan made that pretty clear, even if he simply sounded evasive at first when discussing the subject Tuesday after practice.
“I’m not sure yet. We’re going to take each game as it comes. We’ll probably make decisions on a game-by-game basis,” Sullivan explained before the Rangers headed to Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Thanksgiving Eve.
It’s what he said next that likely gave a more clear vision of his plan moving forward with how to deploy Igor Shesterkin and Garand with Quick on IR.
“What I will tell you is I think because we’ve managed ‘Shesty’s’ workload to this point fairly well, if anyone’s in a position to take on more of a workload, I think Shesty’s [in a position] to do that. That’s a decision we’ll make in time.”
Shesterkin’s started 18 of New York’s 24 games this season, and is, of course, the clear-cut No. 1 goalie. Yet, the Rangers are able to manage his playing time to keep him fresh because Quick is as good a No. 2 as you’ll find in the League.
As such, Shesterkin started four games in a row just once this season. Three other times, the soon to be 30-year-old started three straight. But certainly Shesterkin is capable of handling a heavier workload. Just last season, he started a career-high 61 games.
The Rangers schedule is a busy one this week. Shesterkin backstopped their 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday at Madison Square Garden, and will get the start against the Hurricanes on Wednesday. New York then plays consecutive matinees — Friday in Boston against the Bruins, followed by Saturday at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Typically, Quick, who has a sterling 1.69 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in six games this season, gets one of those starts in the back-to-back set. But will Garand make his NHL debut in one of those games? If Sullivan already knows the answer, he’s simply not saying anything publicly.
“I’m ready for whatever the team needs,” Garand told the New York Post. “It’s an awesome opportunity. That’s why you push, that’s why you work, and hopefully I get an opportunity to play.”
Dylan Garand still ‘waiting for my opportunity’ with Rangers
The Rangers recalled Garand from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Sunday, after Quick sustained his injury the night before late in the third period of a 3-2 road loss at the Utah Mammoth. A collision in his crease appeared to leave Quick favoring his right leg. It’s unknown how long he’s expected to be out, though the 39-year-old reportedly skated on his own Tuesday.
Garand is New York’s top goaltending prospect. But the 23-year-old had an up-and-down preseason and a slow start to his fourth pro season in Hartford. He’s 3-6-2 as the No. 1 goalie for the mediocre Wolf Pack, with a 2.96 GAA and .897 save percentage.
Last season, Garand was an AHL All-Star, won 20 games for the first time as a pro, and tied for ninth among all goalies with a .913 save percentage.
“I think I showed this year that I can be one of, if not the, best goalies in this league (the AHL) and NHL caliber,” Garand told HartfordWolfPack.com over the summer. “Obviously, I’m waiting for my opportunity up top. I know that if I keep putting in the work, that’ll come. Wherever I am, whether it is up there or here, I’m going to compete to win and keep working hard and getting better every day.”
Whenever Quick, the three-time Stanley Cup champion, decides to hang up his skates, the Rangers hope that Garand is ready to handle the role as Shesterkin’s backup. New York recently signed goalie Spencer Martin to a two-year contract as a veteran insurance policy. And there’s also 22-year-old Callum Tung raising eyebrows with some strong play after he was promoted to Hartford from the ECHL.
But Garand is the goalie that’s being groomed by the Rangers to one day be Shesterkin’s backup. The next step is to get him into an NHL game at some point. Let’s see if that opportunity comes this week.
