The New York Rangers are off to a hot start as they won for the sixth time in eight games to start the season Tuesday night.
But they were on the receiving end of some bad news over the weekend when it was announced that starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin will miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading that general manager Chris Drury is making calls around the league for a possible replacement. Dreger mentioned the Rangers have inquired about Connor Hellebuyck with the Winnipeg Jets, but the Rangers do not have a sense of urgency and “flat-out don’t wanna pay the hefty price” that Hellebuyck carries.
Hellebuyck, who requested a trade out of Winnipeg in the off-season, remains suspended from the Jets after not reporting to training camp and has forfeited nearly $600,000 in salary as of Wednesday morning. As Dreger mentioned in last week’s edition of Insider Trading, Hellebuyck and the Jets continue to explore a trade that works for both the team and the goaltender.
In terms of other options for the Rangers, Dreger reports they are also exploring the availability of other experienced goaltenders around the league, especially with limited term.
Dylan Garand backstopped the Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night and is 3-1-0 with a 1.15 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage in four games this season. The Rangers also have Joonas Korpisalo, who is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Spencer Martin is also on the Rangers’ roster, though he has yet to debut this season. He had a 4.13 GAA and .864 save percentage in six NHL games last season.
The Rangers said replacing Shesterkin will be a group effort.
“This is a situation I feel like not a lot needs to be said,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said via NHL.com.
“Everybody in here knows what needs to be done. Everybody has to pull a little more weight around here. I said the other night he’s one of the pillars of our organization and this hockey team, and a leader for us. So, you know, it’s devastating to lose a guy like him, outside of how elite he is as a goalie, what he means to be a teammate and a leader here. There’s a lot to be pulled from every guy in here to make up for what we’re missing. That being said, we feel really confident in the way we’re playing, and we feel like it doesn’t matter who is in net.”
Dreger added in Tuesday’s Insider Trading that the Rangers’ urgency for goaltending help could ramp up if the team’s hot start fades.
New York will be back in action against the New Jersey Devils Thursday evening.