Dylan Garand’s summer took a sharp turn from promising to precarious.
The 24-year-old goalie finally got his shot with the Rangers late last season and made it count, then signed a two-year, $1.75 million deal on June 21. But the momentum didn’t last long. On July 1, New York brought in veteran Joonas Korpisalo in a trade with the Boston Bruins, a move that likely shut the door on Garand’s bid to become Igor Shesterkin’s backup after Jonathan Quick retired.
And this week brought another hit: respected prospects analyst Steven Ellis left Garand off his Top 25 NHL-affiliated goalie prospects for the 2026-27 season at Daily Faceoff. That’s a notable fall for a goalie who was No. 24 on the list a year ago and No. 21 heading into the 2024-25 season.
Garand’s stock had been trending up. He took part in the AHL All-Star Challenge in 2025, took over as the No. 1 goalie for Hartford, and then turned in a strong three-game NHL stint when the Rangers called him up.
In those three appearances, Garand went 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage. He stopped 91 of 96 shots, allowed just five goals, and never gave up more than two in any game. MoneyPuck credited him with 3.9 goals saved above expected.
He was named First Star in each of his first two starts - a 3-2 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets in his NHL debut, when he made 35 saves, and a 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, when he turned aside 27 shots for his first NHL victory. He also started New York’s final game of the 2025-26 season, stopping 29 shots in a 4-2 road win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I’m definitely hungry to play in this league, and for this organization,” Garand said at Rangers breakup day in April. “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.”
Still, the Rangers’ offseason moves have left Garand with an uphill climb at training camp. Korpisalo’s arrival makes it hard to see a path to the backup job, especially with the veteran owed $3 million annually for the next two seasons.
Before his NHL recall, Garand had a mixed 2025-26 campaign in Hartford, finishing 16-15-2 with a 2.83 GAA and .896 save percentage. He played his best hockey down the stretch, but that wasn’t enough to keep him in Ellis’ top-25 group.
Ellis wrote last summer: “Will Garand be able to make it as an NHL backup? Maybe when Jonathan Quick retires, but I’m still not 100 percent convinced he’ll become a full-timer. At the very least, I want to see him given a real chance.”
Whether that chance comes with the Rangers remains to be seen. For now, the likely outcome is another season in Hartford, where Garand would be returning for the fifth straight year. He’s no longer waivers exempt, so he’d have to clear before being sent down.
Known for his fire, Garand now heads toward camp with a fresh reason to be motivated.
In Other News...
Vladislav Gavrikov Just Became A Rangers Question Fans Didn't Expect
The Rangers brought in Vladislav Gavrikov expecting a stabilizing presence on the blue line after the KAndre Miller trade, and he delivered the kind of season that usually quiets a lot of debate. He logged heavy minutes, showed up every night and gave New York a dependable two-way defenseman during a difficult year, the sort of player coaches lean on when the rest of the roster is trying to find its footing.
What makes Gavrikov interesting now is that his first season in New York did more than fill a hole. He produced at a level the Rangers had not necessarily banked on, setting career highs while looking like one of the teams most reliable pieces. For a club still sorting out its identity, that kind of steady value is a gift, but it also creates a new kind of question about just how central he has become to the future of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Wolf Pack Camp Has A New Name To Watch Early
Hartfords first training camp under a largely new coaching staff and roster will have a fresh face to sort through in Justin Nachbaur, who signed with the Wolf Pack as a free agent. For a group trying to establish its identity quickly, the addition gives the Rangers AHL affiliate another player to evaluate as camp opens and roles start to take shape.
Nachbaur said he is excited about the opportunity and offered a clear snapshot of what he hopes to bring. He describes himself as a power forward who leans on a hard, physical style, the kind of profile that can stand out early in camp if the pace and tone get a little heavier. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Made A Notable Wolf Pack Hire For Their Pipeline
The Rangers are taking a different look at the top of the Hartford Wolf Pack bench, bringing in Jay Leach as the new head coach of their AHL affiliate. Leach arrives with NHL experience on his resume from assistant roles with the Seattle Kraken and Boston Bruins, giving the organization a veteran voice for a key development stop in the pipeline.
Hartford also got a reshaped staff around him, with Bob Woods and John Stevens named as assistant coaches under Leach. The move comes after the previous coaching staff was let go, and it gives the Rangers a fresh setup in a place that matters a lot for how quickly prospects are ready to help in New York. [Read more 🡒]