Dylan Garand didn’t get the usual split-game preseason treatment on Sunday, and the Rangers goalie made the most of the chance. In New York’s 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, Garand stopped 28 shots and put himself squarely into a backup battle that is suddenly a lot messier than the organization probably wanted.
The Rangers dressed a roster that was, in reality, mostly Hartford Wolf Pack players, but Garand was one of the few who had a real stake in the night. With preseason goaltenders typically sharing the workload, he was given the full game to keep pressing his case to back up Igor Shesterkin.
That opportunity may not come around many more times. He is unlikely to start the second half of a back-to-back on Tuesday, and with two games left after that, he may only have one more crack at forcing the issue.
The complication is obvious: if Garand isn’t chosen as Shesterkin’s backup, the Rangers could lose him on waivers. That pressure exists because the team brought in Joonas Korpisalo during the offseason, leaving President and General Manager Chris Drury with a decision that still hasn’t been resolved.
After the game, Garand didn’t try to oversell anything. He kept it measured and honest when asked whether 28 saves against a good amount of NHL competition amounted to a statement.
Via Colin Stephenson of Newsday:
"Yeah, maybe. I mean, I've just tried to, every day, just try and give my best, and work hard and compete I mentioned... a couple days ago that there's so much out of my control, so I'm really just trying to limit that outside noise inside my head, and just battle, and lay it all out there."
That kind of answer fits Garand’s approach. He has been plainspoken before, including after a brief stretch with the Rangers when he said, "I never want to go back to the American League, honestly.
I'm so hungry to be here. I want to be in this league and a part of this organization."
There’s a strong case that he has earned a real look. In the 2025-26 AHL season, Garand went 16-15-2 with a 2.83 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.
With the Blueshirts, he was 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals against average and a .948 save percentage. Evolving-Hockey also credited him with a 4.88 GSAA and a 5.38 GSAx.
Garand turned 24 in June and has already played 148 AHL games over six seasons, posting a 2.90 goals against average and a .901 save percentage. Before that, he was a CHL goaltender of the year, logging 135 games with a 2.34 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
For a team that will lean on Shesterkin as far as he can carry them, the backup job matters. Shesterkin will turn 31 in December, and with the Rangers’ Letter 2.0 talking about looking ahead and retooling, it makes sense to know exactly what they have for the long haul. That’s why Garand’s situation feels so important now.
The frustrating part is that the Rangers may be putting themselves in position to lose him. If keeping him around means carrying a three-goalie setup for a while, that may be the better move than letting him go. The next few days should bring more clarity, but for now Garand has done his part to keep the conversation alive.
In Other News...
Rangers Opener Brought One Bigger Concern Than The Final Score
The Rangers preseason opener ended with a 3-2 loss to the Devils, but the final score was only part of the concern. New Jersey got the winner late in the third period from Jack Hughes and controlled the shot count 31-18, while the Rangers spent much of the night trying to find their footing in a game that had the feel of an early test more than a finished product.
Adam Sykoras night ended early with a lower-body injury, and there was more unease afterward when Vincent Iorio was also being evaluated postgame. For a team still sorting out its depth and lineup options this time of year, those are the kinds of details that can matter more than a September result, especially with the season still weeks away and the injury picture not yet fully clear. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Preseason Debut Puts New Faces Under Immediate Pressure
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Several players will get their first crack in a Rangers sweater, including Pavel Dorofeyev, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen, while the rest of the lineup offers an early glimpse at how the coaching staff is sorting through combinations. There are still roster spots up for grabs, especially among the forwards, and the battle for those final openings is already underway with the preseason barely beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Sykora's Rangers Roster Push Just Took A Brutal Turn
Adam Sykoras push to earn a place on the Rangers opening-night roster hit an early snag in the preseason opener, when the young forward went down less than halfway through the first period after a hit from Devils rookie Mikael Diotte. Sykora had been trying to carve out one of the limited spots available among the teams forward group, making this the kind of setback that can quickly alter a camp battle.
He left the ice with assistance and was ruled out early in the second period, adding an immediate layer of uncertainty to a spot that was already going to be hard to win. For a player looking to impress in a crowded race, every shift matters, and this one ended before he could really get rolling. [Read more 🡒]