Rangers Face Difficult Goaltending Decision Following Joonas Korpisalo Trade
The New York Rangers have unexpectedly created a complicated situation in their crease after acquiring veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins, a move that could significantly impact the future of promising young netminder Dylan Garand.
Like many around the hockey world, former Rangers captain and longtime MSG Network analyst Dave Maloney expected the club to bring in an experienced goaltender this offseason to challenge Garand for the backup role behind franchise star Igor Shesterkin. However, what surprised him was not the addition of a veteran itself, but rather the magnitude of the commitment the Rangers made by trading for Korpisalo, who remains under contract for two more seasons with a $3 million annual salary cap hit.
Korpisalo, 32, arrives in New York with a wealth of NHL experience, having appeared in 334 regular-season games. Over the past two seasons, he served as Jeremy Swayman’s backup in Boston after previously spending time as Ottawa’s starting goaltender. His résumé and financial commitment suggest that the Rangers view him as much more than a short-term insurance option.
Speaking on the Rink Rap podcast with Forever Blueshirts, Maloney admitted that the contract was the biggest surprise.
“I was only surprised at the financial commitment,” he explained. “The salary cap is increasing, the Rangers have room to work with, and they’re getting a goalie who has proven NHL experience.”
While Korpisalo’s arrival strengthens New York’s depth between the pipes, it also creates uncertainty for Dylan Garand, who many believed had earned a genuine opportunity to become Shesterkin’s full-time backup entering the 2026-27 season.
Garand, now 24 years old, impressed everyone during his brief NHL debut late last season. In just three appearances, he posted an outstanding 2-0-1 record while recording a sparkling 1.62 goals-against average and an exceptional .948 save percentage. His calm demeanor, athleticism, and confidence immediately caught the attention of coaches, teammates, and fans alike.
Maloney was particularly impressed by Garand’s style of play.
He questioned whether three NHL games were enough to hand the youngster a regular backup role but praised everything he saw during that stretch.
“He was electric,” Maloney said. “I loved the way he played. He has flair and confidence. His style actually reminds me of Marc-Andre Fleury. The way he moves, his mannerisms, how quickly he attacks the corners of the crease—it all resembles Fleury.”
Despite the praise, Maloney acknowledged that evaluating a player based on three late-season games can be difficult, especially since those appearances came after the Rangers were effectively eliminated from playoff contention.
The organization clearly values Garand’s long-term potential. Before free agency opened, the Rangers signed the restricted free agent to a two-year contract worth $1.75 million, ensuring he remains under team control while continuing his development.
Garand has steadily progressed since being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft with the 103rd overall pick. He represented Hartford at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic and recorded 20 victories that season. Although he endured a slow start during the most recent campaign, he finished the year in outstanding form, allowing two goals or fewer in eight of his final nine AHL starts despite playing behind a struggling Hartford Wolf Pack team that finished at the bottom of the league standings.
His strong finish earned him the opportunity to make his NHL debut, where he only strengthened the belief that he is ready for full-time NHL duty.
However, Korpisalo’s arrival now raises an important question: Will Garand have to return to the American Hockey League once again?
Some observers have suggested that the Rangers could begin next season carrying three goaltenders on their NHL roster. With sufficient salary-cap flexibility, such an arrangement is financially possible. Additionally, both Korpisalo and Garand would need to clear waivers before being assigned to Hartford, making roster decisions even more complicated.
Nevertheless, the more likely outcome is that Korpisalo opens the season as Shesterkin’s backup while the Rangers hope Garand successfully clears waivers and returns to Hartford as the Wolf Pack’s starting goaltender.
Maloney believes carrying three goalies is far from an ideal solution.
“A three-goaltender rotation never works,” he said. “There are only two nets during practice, so someone inevitably gets left out. It’s definitely going to be a tricky situation to manage.”
Still, recent NHL history shows the importance of having quality organizational depth at the position.
The Carolina Hurricanes demonstrated that throughout their Stanley Cup-winning campaign, receiving valuable contributions from Brandon Bussi, Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov at various points during the season. While injuries prevented Carolina from consistently carrying three healthy goaltenders, their depth ultimately proved invaluable.
That example highlights exactly why the Rangers wanted to strengthen their own crease.
Last season exposed New York’s lack of reliable depth after Shesterkin missed significant time with a lower-body injury. Veteran Jonathan Quick, who retired at the end of the season at age 40, struggled to shoulder the workload as the temporary starter. Meanwhile, Spencer Martin failed to provide the stability the team hoped for after being recalled from Hartford.
At the time, the Rangers apparently felt Garand wasn’t yet prepared for NHL action—a decision that, in hindsight, may have underestimated his readiness.
Now, assuming Garand clears waivers, New York possesses three legitimate NHL-caliber goaltenders within the organization, providing much stronger protection against injuries or unexpected roster challenges.
Korpisalo also brings consistency and durability. Since the beginning of the 2019-20 season, he has played fewer than 30 games only twice and handled a career-high workload of 55 games as Ottawa’s starting goalie during the 2023-24 campaign.
Last season with Boston, Korpisalo appeared in 31 games, including 28 starts, compiling a 14-9-6 record along with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage. According to MoneyPuck’s advanced statistics, he finished tied for 49th among NHL goaltenders with a minus-1.00 Goals Saved Above Expected rating.
While Garand may understandably feel frustrated by the organization’s latest move, Maloney believes the young netminder’s mindset will determine his future.
His advice was simple but powerful: Garand must continue believing he belongs in the NHL regardless of where he starts next season.
“Dylan Garand has to convince himself mentally and physically that he is an NHL goaltender,” Maloney said. “Whether Opening Night features Shesterkin and Korpisalo or not, he has to maintain that belief because his opportunity will eventually come.”
For the Rangers, the addition of Korpisalo strengthens their depth chart but also creates one of the most intriguing roster battles heading into training camp. Whether Garand forces his way into the NHL picture sooner rather than later could become one of the team’s biggest storylines throughout the season.
