Rangers Navigate Three-Goalie Rotation as Season Winds Down

The New York Rangers are embracing a unique challenge as they approach the end of the 2025-26 NHL season: managing a three-goaltender rotation. With Jonathan Quick sidelined due to an upper-body injury, the Rangers have recalled Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. During Quick’s seven-game absence, Garand stepped up, appearing in two games and achieving a 1-0-1 record, a 1.44 goals against average, and an impressive .954 save percentage.

Despite Garand’s solid performance, he hasn’t seen ice time since securing his first NHL win on March 27. This situation raises the question of whether the Rangers plan to keep him on the roster for the remainder of the season. Currently, it appears that the organization is not inclined to send Garand back to the AHL, though head coach Sullivan has not confirmed if he will receive another start. “Would we like for Dylan to get another start? Potentially, yes,” Sullivan acknowledged. “We’ll see how it goes moving forward. We have a game plan for him.”

Managing three goaltenders simultaneously complicates the team’s dynamics, particularly when it comes to practice and game opportunities. Garand has primarily served as a backup to Igor Shesterkin during Quick’s absence, but he has been a healthy scratch for the last two games since Quick resumed practice. While all three goalies participate in practice, Shesterkin and Quick typically dominate the workload, making it challenging to ensure equal repetitions.

To tackle this logistical puzzle, Sullivan has engaged in discussions with Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury and goaltending coach Jeff Malcolm to devise a strategy for the three-goalie setup. “We have a game plan,” Sullivan stated. “Chris Drury and I have had a conversation around this, so we’re very much on the same page on what we think is best and why. That was a lengthy discussion. It’s not a decision that we make lightly.” He elaborated on the practice arrangements, indicating that some goalies may take shots before or after formal practice sessions to maintain their rhythm.

Even with the Rangers eliminated from playoff contention, Sullivan has reiterated that Shesterkin remains the starting goaltender. With five games left in the season and no back-to-backs on the horizon, it’s likely Shesterkin will be tasked with starting every game as the campaign concludes. Despite Garand’s limited chances for game action, Sullivan believes that keeping him with the team provides invaluable learning experiences alongside Shesterkin and Quick. “I think Quickie and Shesty have been great mentors for Dylan Garand right now,” Sullivan emphasized, recognizing the importance of the relationship developing between the young goalie and his more experienced counterparts.

Looking ahead to next season, the backup goaltending position is up for grabs, especially considering Quick’s one-year, $1.55 million contract expires on July 1. Garand’s AHL experience positions him as a potential candidate to step into that role. However, Sullivan faces a delicate balance: wanting to give Garand the opportunities he needs while also honoring Quick’s contributions, particularly as he approaches what could be his final season in the NHL at 40 years old. “Shesty is an important guy to us. He’s the number one guy here, and arguably the best goalie in the game. We’ve had a lot of conversations lately about Quickie and what he means to the New York Rangers,” Sullivan said. “Just his body of work, and certainly, we are respectful of that. We’re trying to do the right thing by all of our guys.”

As the Rangers navigate this intricate situation, the evolution of their three-goalie rotation remains uncertain as the season draws to a close.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.