Dylan Garand is turning into one of the feel-good stories of the Rangers’ early season, and he’s doing it in the most important place on the ice: between the pipes.
The 24-year-old has gone 5-1-1 in seven NHL games, with six starts, and the numbers are loud. A 1.37 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage don’t just look good on paper - they’ve helped steady New York through a chaotic stretch that has already asked plenty of him.
That stretch has been a ride. Garand cleared waivers, got sent down, was recalled a couple of days later when Joonas Korpisalo went down with an injury, picked up his first NHL shutout in his first start of the season, and then found himself taking over after Igor Shesterkin suffered a season-ending knee injury. It’s been a dizzying sequence, but Garand has handled every twist with the same composed, professional edge.
Coach Mike Sullivan made it clear Wednesday that the Rangers have noticed.
“He’s an easy guy to like,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “He’s an easy guy to root for, just because of his approach and how much he cares about winning and being the best he can be. He’s just an easy guy to like.”
Sullivan also pointed to the way Garand carries himself on the job and what he’s done once the puck drops.
“He’s a great kid, a fierce competitor, he loves hockey, he plays and practices extremely hard. He’s totally invested in being the best goalie he can be,” Sullivan explained. “What we’ve seen is that every time he goes into the net, he makes saves for us, and that’s what he continues to do.”
That’s the part the Rangers need most right now. Shesterkin is out for the season, and while that’s a massive loss, Garand has given New York a reason to believe the strong start can keep rolling for the 6-2-0 club.
The fan base has already jumped in behind him. On Tuesday, during the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, MSG rang with “Dy-Lan!
Dy-Lan!” chants.
“That felt really good. Honestly, it felt a little weird, it’s typically reserved for ‘Shesty’ so it was a little weird in that sense but it felt so good,” Garand said postgame Tuesday.
“I felt so much support from these fans and it really means a lot to me. I just want to go out there and battle, not just for the guys in the room but for the fans as well.”
Rangers fans have a long history of embracing their goaltenders, from “Igor!” to “Henrik!”
and “Richter!” and “Beezer!”
and “J.D.!” and “Eddie!.”
Garand has stepped into that spotlight now, and he’s earning the noise.
Elsewhere around the Rangers beat, Cole Beaudoin has been sent back to Hartford of the AHL, while Malcolm Spence is off to a solid start in his sophomore year with Michigan. Liam Greentree’s strong early play is also standing out in the latest update on the Hartford Wolf Pack. Sullivan, meanwhile, said he’s pleased with the Rangers’ ability to “establish an identity” in the first few weeks of the 2026-27 season.
In Detroit, Kevin Allen reported that the Red Wings are glad they signed Alex DeBrincat to a hefty extension, but interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said he has “zero interest” in trading Simon Edvinsson and needs to get the young defenseman signed after the holdout situation came into focus Wednesday.
Around the league, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Montreal Canadiens are not on Dylan Larkin’s approved trade list, which has expanded since the summer to 10 teams. Larkin asked for a trade this summer and can control where he goes because of his full no-trade clause.
On the Devils side, James Nichols set up Thursday’s Rangers-Devils matchup, noting coach Sheldon Keefe is closing in on his 300th NHL win and detailing the projected lines for the first Hudson River rivalry meeting of the season.
Elsewhere, William James reported that teams are circling the winless Flyers, looking to see whether Danny Briere is ready to make a move. Ryan Dixon examined where five teams with slow starts stand on the early-season panic meter, Dan Kingerski dug into what feels off with the Penguins, and Carter Hutton weighed in on the Kings’ goaltending problems during their winless start.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Have A Pavel Dorofeyev Problem Mike Sullivan Can't Ignore
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Instead, the finish belonged to Lehigh Valley, which pulled away in the final period and put the game out of reach late. Even in defeat, Wolf Pack head coach Jay Leach had reason to point to Callum Tung, whose work in net kept Hartford competitive for much of the night and gave the home side a chance before the game slipped away. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Fans Will Want To See Chytils Next Step In Vancouver
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The roster move to make it happen came with a cost, as the Canucks waived center Aatu Raty to open a spot. For Rangers fans still tracking Chytils path, this is the next checkpoint to watch: how he looks coming off the injury, and how quickly he can settle back into a lineup that has been waiting for his arrival. [Read more 🡒]