The New York Rangers are closing in on Tuesday night’s season opener, and Sunday brought one of the roster calls that had to be made before the real thing begins: Dylan Garand and Taylor Raddysh were placed on waivers.
For Garand, the move carries the most weight. New York added Joonas Korpisalo over the summer, and that quickly made the backup goalie picture clear. The Rangers decided Garand would be better served getting No. 1 goalie reps in the AHL, even if that means accepting the risk of losing him for nothing.
The club views the 24-year-old as still having more developing to do, and that part of the decision is what makes it tricky. Garand has shown some encouraging signs in a limited sample, but the Rangers are betting that more game action is the right next step for him.
That bet comes with real downside. Players don’t get claimed on waivers all the time, but a young goalie with upside is the kind of player other teams can pounce on.
If Garand gets through, the Rangers will breathe easier. If he doesn’t, the decision could sting.
Raddysh also landed on waivers, though that move was less surprising. He had been in the mix and looked like someone who at least had a shot to make the roster during camp and the preseason.
The Rangers spent the summer aggressively reshaping the roster after a rough year, and the result is a deeper team than the one that finished last season in last place. Chris Drury’s push to upgrade the lineup has put New York in position to chase a playoff spot, but it also forced some difficult cuts. Sunday was one of them.
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