The New York Rangers have brought up goaltender Dylan Garand today due to starting goalie Igor Shesterkin taking a leave of absence from the team.
Shesterkin is undoubtedly one of the most crucial players, if not the most essential player for the Rangers, but certain life events take priority over hockey.
This is precisely why he is currently away; he and his wife are expecting their second child.
Consequently, the team has recalled goaltender Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack.
This move pushes the team over the 23-man roster limit, which usually breaches NHL regulations. However, as Garand has been called up on an emergency basis, no additional roster adjustments are necessary.
It is unclear whether Garand’s recall qualifies as an emergency call-up. In the meantime, Quick started in goal this afternoon but struggled against Seattle, conceding 6 goals on 21 shots.
The Kraken then added an empty-net goal to win the game 7-5. If Shesterkin is unable to return tomorrow, which seems likely, the team will have to either start the 38-year-old Quick on consecutive days or give 22-year-old Garand his first NHL appearance.
Garand was selected in the 4th round by the Rangers in 2020. This season, he boasts a record of 7-2-2 in 11 AHL games, with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
Make sure to check in tomorrow to see if he will make his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks.
