James Reimer cleared waivers this afternoon, which means the Rangers can now assign the 38-year-old goaltender to Hartford of the AHL.
It closes a short and ugly chapter. Reimer got one period of work for New York this season, and the Rangers placed him on waivers right after.
The Rangers needed a body in goal because Igor Shesterkin is listed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Reimer, with 539 NHL games behind him and a career .909 save percentage, was supposed to be the stopgap.
Instead, Dylan Garand has carried the work. He stopped 23 of 25 shots in a 3-2 win over the Flyers on Thursday night, and the Rangers have now won two straight.
The James Reimer waiver placement reported Thursday already pointed to a team ready to move on. Clearing waivers just makes it official, and no other club wanted to take the chance.
Reimer's NHL line this season reads one game played, and that was the whole story. A goalie with his career numbers deserved a longer look than 20 minutes, but Mike Sullivan pulled the plug fast, and the Rangers never went back.
Who backs up Dylan Garand now
That's where it gets thin. Joonas Korpisalo is listed on injured reserve with a foot injury, expected out until at least Nov. 9, and he has played one game this season.
Garand has 13 appearances this year and 16 in his NHL career. He is a fourth-round pick from 2020 who is now the guy in a market that does not forgive goaltending problems.
The schedule doesn't help. The Rangers are 8-2-0 at home and 1-5-1 on the road, and Saturday they are in Seattle.
Sitting at 9-7-1, third in the Metropolitan Division, New York can't afford a goalie hole on that road swing. Trusting Garand through a stretch like this, with both Shesterkin and Korpisalo on IR, is a bigger gamble than the Rangers are admitting.
Hartford is where Reimer goes next if the club follows through. The Rangers face the Kraken on Saturday, and the question of who sits beside Garand has to be answered by then.
Quick hits
MINNESOTA WILD: Michael Russo reports Marcus Foligno and Nick Foligno won't play tonight against the Sharks. Losing both at once will be felt in the lineup.
-
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Terry Koshan reports John Tavares figures he'll be back in the lineup tomorrow night against the Habs. Good timing for a team that needs him.
-
DALLAS STARS: Glen Gulutzan says Miro Heiskanen is doubtful to play against San Jose on Saturday. That is a big absence on the blue line.
-
WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Tarik El-Bashir reports Martin Fehervary was full-go at practice and will play Saturday against the Panthers, per Spencer Carbery. Welcome news.
-
BUFFALO SABRES: NHL Rosters reports Ryan McLeod will be a healthy scratch tonight when the Sabres host the Blue Jackets. Worth watching how long it lasts.
-
Should the Rangers trade for a goalie instead of trusting Dylan Garand?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Gavin McKenna responds to Leafs' power-play demotion, and his answer speaks volumes
