Igor Shesterkin’s injury has thrown the Rangers into a dangerous spot, and it has also kicked open the door for a trade idea that would send a ripple through the Eastern Conference.
Shesterkin, who has been a highlight reel so far this season, was forced out in a serious injury that could keep him sidelined long term. He needed assistance off the ice as the Rangers held their breath, with their season suddenly looking far more fragile than it did just moments earlier.
New York got off to a hot start, but that success was tied in large part to its star goaltender. If he misses significant time, the road gets a lot tougher in a hurry.
That’s where the Maple Leafs enter the picture.
Toronto has a fairly decent pipeline of goaltenders at both the NHL and AHL levels, while the Rangers are staring at a situation that demands steadier play in net. If New York wants to keep itself afloat in the Metropolitan, the suggestion is simple: make a move.
The proposed deal would send Anthony Stolarz and a 2027 third-round pick to New York in exchange for defenseman Braden Schneider.
For the Rangers, Stolarz would give them a dependable option instead of Dylan Garand. He has already shown this season that he can provide the kind of goaltending that helped the Panthers win a Stanley Cup and made him one of the best goalies in the NHL during the 2024-25 season. Through two starts, Stolarz is 2-0-0 with a 2.44 GAA and a .904 SV%, and he has accounted for both of Toronto’s wins so far this year.
Toronto, meanwhile, would be bringing in a 25-year-old right-shot defender who checks a lot of boxes. Schneider would slide in as a shutdown blue liner and add shot blocking and physical play to the Leafs’ back end. He has no points this season, but he has already posted eight blocks and 12 hits while averaging 17:26 of ice time.
The case for New York is built on urgency. Even with Schneider in the package, the Rangers need goaltending they can trust, and Stolarz offers that if he stays healthy. His injury history makes the gamble obvious, but the argument is that New York cannot afford to sit still while its season hangs in the balance.
Schneider has also come up in trade discussions before, and because he will need an extension after this year, the Rangers could save money while landing a goalie who is both cheap and effective. Given their hot start, they have no choice but to try to stay in the fight.
From Toronto’s side, Schneider would fill a long-term need as a shutdown defender and could serve as the perfect replacement for Chris Tanev as he gets older and moves toward the end of his career.
The Leafs also have other young goaltenders in the pipeline, including Artur Akhtyamov, and they are reportedly high on Samuel Hlavaj as well as Patriks Plumins, whom they drafted this past summer.
It is the kind of deal that could help both teams in 2026-27 and beyond, giving each side a piece it needs right now. And if John Chayka wants to make a splash, this would be a big one.
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Blankenburg arrived on a one-year deal after a strong training camp, so this is a useful early look at how he fits once the games start to count. There is still one notable piece left hanging ahead of puck drop, though, because Hiller declined to name the starting goaltender, leaving Torontos final call in net as the other decision worth watching before the matchup begins. [Read more 🡒]