New York Rangers Top Prospect Searching For NHL Role: GM Chris Drury Shouldn't Ignore This
Photo credit: Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers
Dylan Garand was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft for the New York Rangers. Since then, he's been kicking around in the AHL, developing nicely with the Hartford Wolfpack. This season, he helped lead the Wolfpack to a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. Is he ready for a call-up?
TheNew York Rangers have a solid prospect in goalie Dylan Garand. For the last three years, he's played in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack.
His growth as a goalie has shown, as he's been a key piece in the lineup with veteran goalie Louis Domingue backing him up.
This season, he led the Wolfpack with a 20-10-9 record, 2.73 GAA, and a .913 save percentage. Nothing to snooze at in the 2nd-best hockey league in the world.
Garand would make an appearance in this year's AHL All-Star Game, representing the Atlantic Division as well.
For the Rangers, they're set with Igor Shesterkin for the next decade, but what would be thrilling is if they could soon use Garand as a backup, and give Shesterkin a role as mentor to the young goalie.
Garand's Chance To Backup Shesterkin A Reality?
With Jonathan Quick aging, it seems like the Rangers will have to consider calling up Garand to the NHL full-time. At 39 years old, he isn't long for the NHL and may consider retirement after spending nearly 18 years in the NHL.
For the Rangers, this would be a good problem, as he could make the jump as soon as Quick decides to hang up the skates, while the team could trade for another goalie prospect during the offseason, or call up another from the ECHL (Talyn Boko).
Garand is ready when the time comes:
«I haven't gotten any opportunity in the NHL yet, but obviously I'm ready whenever my opportunity does come,» Garand said.
But for Garand's, it's still a crap shoot, as we all know how long Marc-Andre Fleury took until he retired from the league.
Though we're in no place to rush Quick out of the crease, as he's still a great and servicable goalie in the NHL.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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