Rangers’ Garand is making the most of his NHL opportunity

The New York Rangers have been dealt a rough hand to start the 2026-27 season, but a young netminder is trying to make chicken salad out of chicken…well, you know.

The Rangers came into the new season hoping to perform better than last year, when they finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, the Blueshirts lost Igor Shesterkin for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. On top of that, backup Joonas Korpisalo has been out of action due to injury. That opened the door for Dylan Garand, who had cleared waivers in the preseason.

Despite giving up four goals against the New Jersey Devils last week, the 24-year-old has been solid, with a 3-2-1 record, with a 1.82 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and a shutout.

On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, InGoal Magazine’s Kevin Woodley talks about how Garand is making the most out of his time in the opening weeks of the new season.

Kevin Woodley: I think Dylan’s got a pretty good environment right now with the Rangers, under Mike Sullivan. It’s a good spot to come into. I think Garand was ready to be an NHL player. Not to be biased. I got a chance to see him in the summer, be on the ice with him in the summer, see the work ethic, see the work rate. You guys watch when he plays; his ability to hold edges and keep the skates underneath him is at a really elite level. Reminds me a little bit of Dustin Wolf. Smaller goalie, not getting locked in low and wide, not overcommitting. I believe his game was ready for the NHL.

Thank God for the Rangers that he didn’t get claimed. He looks great early, but it’s one thing to come in and sort of work your way into the league as a backup, limited minutes, especially behind Igor Shesterkin, but to come in and be the guy, there’s just so much more that goes into that…there’s an expectation and a pressure level that shifts. … Dylan’s ready for the NHL. Is he ready to be a number one in the NHL? Only time will tell, and that’s a pretty big ask…and we’ll have to see if he’s up for it. I hope he is, but you’ve got to keep doing it day in and day out.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…