The Rangers got free agency kicked off with a trade, acquiring 32 year old Finnish goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins in exchange for prospect forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth round pick. The acquisition provides needed goaltender depth for the organization that faced the prospect of going into the regular season with Igor Shesterkin as their starter, but questions over who’d back him up, or step up should he suffer another injury.
Dylan Garand made a strong debut last season, going 2-0-1 late in the season, and was recently extended for two years, removing the risk of losing him as a Group VI UFA next year. However the organization continues to remain cautious about his prospects, and the addition of Korpisalo does provide some cover. The move also pushes last year mid-season signing Spencer Martin down the depth chart. Martin had projected as the starter of the Wolf Pack after joining the team after beginning the year in the KHL. The veteran struggled with the Rangers, going 1-3-0 in his 6 appearances, posting a below par save percentage of .864 to go with an eye watering 4.13 GAA. By contrast, Garand recorded .948 and 1.61 respectively, though at a point when the team in front of him was playing more effectively.
The risk for the Rangers is that they could lose Garand for nothing, as he is now waiver eligible, and would probably be claimed if he was to be exposed. Whether Korpisalo would be claimed remains a question likely dependent on the status of the other 31 clubs going into the regular season. Drury could elect to keep three goaltenders on the roster to start the year, or try and slide one of them down late after other teams have already largely committed to their rosters.
Korpisalo has two more years left at $3M AAV due to retention of $1M by Ottawa on the original contract.
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