The Rangers may be eyeing Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, after goalie scout Scott Clemmensen was spotted at Buffalo's game in Montreal.
Elliotte Friedman said Clemmensen, a former 200-game NHL goalie and 15-year pro, is the Rangers' goalie scout and will be Chris Drury's eyes on the market.
“He's going to figure out who looks bad and who looks nice, right? And Clemmensen is going to be his guy going out there to look at guys firsthand,” Friedman said.
“And he was in Montreal, Buffalo. I assume to watch Luukkonen. And, you know, we'll see what goes on there.”
“But that's what they're going to do. They're going to sit here and they're going to say, okay, we don't have to panic.”
That calm comes from Dylan Garand. With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, the young goalie has three wins, a shutout and a .915 save percentage.
Friedman said Garand has “bought them time.” The Rangers are 6-3-0, even after Thursday's loss in New Jersey.
Chris Drury builds his goalie list with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on it
Luukkonen, 27, carries a $4,750,000 cap hit and has struggled in Buffalo, with an .854 save percentage through six games.
That might be exactly why he's available. A struggling goalie on a reasonable contract can be a buy-low target for a team that believes a change of scenery helps.
New York's depth is thin. Joonas Korpisalo is still hurt, and Friedman heard the Rangers might bring another goalie into AHL Hartford, with Spencer Martin the other healthy option.
Drury shouldn't pay much for Luukkonen. He isn't an upgrade on Garand right now, so this should be a depth move at a depth price, not a rescue mission.
It's like test-driving a used car with a few dents. It might run great with a new owner, but you don't pay new-car money for it.
The Rangers visit Columbus on Saturday, while the Sabres visit Montreal.
Friedman says Drury is making a list. Luukkonen is clearly on it, and Garand's play will decide how urgently anyone gets crossed off.
Should the Rangers trade for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?
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