The Rangers are in a full-blown goalie nightmare. Star netminder Igor Shesterkin is out for the season after getting dinged up in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Capitals, and his backup, Joonas Korpisalo, is sidelined for at least another four weeks with a lower-body injury.
The Rangers’ Goalie Depth Chart Is Looking ROUGH
Seriously, folks, it’s a mess for the Metropolitan Division leaders. They’re pinning all their hopes on 24-year-old rookie Dylan Garand as the starter, and thank goodness he showed real promise before he went unclaimed on waivers a few weeks back. But who’s backing him up? They’ve got 31-year-old Spencer Martin, who just got cleared from his own lower-body injury and clocks in with a career 87.5 percent save percentage through 72 NHL games. Behind him is emergency backup Remmington Keopple, a 24-year-old who only saw 19 NCAA games over four seasons at Cornell. You telling me that’s the plan? And let’s be real, the Blueshirts probably can’t talk Jonathan Quick or Connor Ingram out of retirement, or swing some magic trade for a guy like Connor Hellebuyck.
Could a Former Kraken Steal the Show in NYC?
But hold up, because there’s one name on the radar that should get Seattle fans, and definitely Rangers fans, thinking: 32-year-old Canadian Matt Murray. This dude is an unrestricted free agent right now, and get this, he’s super familiar with Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan. Murray was Sully’s rookie goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16, stepping in for the legend Marc-André Fleury in the first round of the playoffs. What did he do? Posted a ridiculous .923 save percentage and 2.08 GAA across 15 games as the Penguins marched all the way to the 2016 Stanley Cup! He’s got five years in Pittsburgh, two in Ottawa, three in Toronto under his belt, and yeah, he had a massive 21-month break from bilateral hip surgery. Here’s the kicker for us, though: last season, Murray actually suited up for *our* Seattle Kraken, starting four games as the third-choice goaltender behind Joey Daccord. And guess what? Even in that small sample size, he put up some legit numbers: a .922 save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average. That hip injury is probably why he’s still a free agent, but with that kind of proven NHL experience and a history with the Rangers’ top dog, he absolutely feels like a solid bet. This could be HUGE for them, and honestly, a bit of a head-scratcher that he’s not already snatched up.
Other Options on the Radar, But Less Thrilling
Then there’s 25-year-old Remi Poirier. He hasn’t made his NHL debut yet, and you can’t really blame him. The Dallas Stars picked him in the sixth round back in 2020, and with Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith holding down their net for three seasons, Poirier just couldn’t crack that premier tandem. He was a workhorse for the AHL’s Texas Stars last season though, starting 52 games with a .912 save percentage and a 2.61 GAA before the Stars waived him. He’s got some similarities to Garand, sure, but the experience factor is just not there.
So, yeah, the Rangers are staring down a rough patch in net. Garand’s gonna have to step up big time, but getting someone like Matt Murray, who’s been there, done that, and even showed some serious flashes with *our* Kraken last season, could be the savvy move. We’re talking about a guy who knows what it takes to win when the pressure’s on, and the Rangers need that experience now more than ever. This isn’t just about filling a roster spot; it’s about keeping their season from absolutely derailing. Fingers crossed they make the right call!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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