Igor Shesterkin Is Out for the Season, and the Rangers Hand Dylan Garand the Net While They Shop for a Goalie

The New York Rangers' season changed on Saturday. The team announced that Igor Shesterkin will miss the rest of the 2026-27 season with the right leg injury he suffered Friday night in Washington, when his skate jammed into the post as he scrambled back to his crease. The Rangers described it as a lower-body injury, and the Associated Press and ESPN reported it as a right knee injury.

The timing could hardly be worse. Backup Joonas Korpisalo is also hurt, and general manager Chris Drury said he will be out at least another four weeks. That leaves Dylan Garand, who made 11 saves on 12 shots in relief on Friday, as the Rangers' starter for the foreseeable future, with Spencer Martin recalled from the AHL after recovering from his own injury. New York is expected to explore the trade and free-agent markets for help.

What happened

Shesterkin went down early in the second period of Friday's 3-1 loss to the Capitals. As he scrambled back toward his net, his right skate caught the post and his leg buckled. Teammates helped him off the ice without him putting weight on the leg, and coach Mike Sullivan described the situation as concerning after the game. Saturday's announcement confirmed the worst-case scenario.

Garand took over and allowed one goal, Boone Jenner's tiebreaker late in the second period. It was his first career relief appearance.

Fantasy fallout

Shesterkin managers: This is a devastating loss. He was one of the elite fantasy goalies, and there is no way to replace that production from the waiver wire. If your league has an injured reserve slot, move him there. In keeper and dynasty leagues, hold him; he will be back next season. In redraft leagues without IR, you can drop him, but check your league's rules first.

Dylan Garand: He is the immediate pickup. Per reports, Sullivan indicated Garand will handle the bulk of the workload until Korpisalo returns, which means he could start most of the Rangers' games over the next month. That kind of volume makes him a must-add in most formats, regardless of his ratios.

The caution is that Garand has limited NHL experience, and his numbers could be volatile. A goalie's fantasy value depends heavily on the team in front of him, and the Rangers had been playing well, including a four-game winning streak earlier this month. If the defense holds up, Garand could post useful numbers. If not, his ratios could hurt you.

Spencer Martin: A deep-league stash at best. His NHL performances have been inconsistent, and he is likely to be the backup unless Garand struggles badly.

The goalie the Rangers acquire: This is the wild card. If New York trades for or signs an experienced goalie, that player would likely take over as the starter, and Garand's value would drop. Keep an eye on the news over the next week.

The trade market

The Rangers are expected to explore options. Reports have mentioned a range of possibilities.

Samuel Montembeault (Montreal) has been mentioned as a potential target if the Canadiens are willing to move him. He has been injured himself, with Jakub Dobes taking over the Canadiens' crease and Jacob Fowler recalled from Laval, which could make Montreal more willing to deal from depth once Montembeault is healthy.

David Rittich (New Jersey) is another name that has come up as a less expensive, experienced option.

The free-agent market includes veterans like Matt Murray and James Reimer, either of whom could provide a short-term bridge. Speculation about Jonathan Quick coming out of retirement has surfaced, but there is no indication that it is a real possibility.

For fantasy managers, a trade for an established goalie would likely make that player a startable option in most leagues, given the Rangers' quality skating group.

Betting and futures angle

Shesterkin's loss is a major hit to the Rangers' futures. Goaltending is the most important position in hockey betting, and the Rangers just lost one of the league's best. Expect their Stanley Cup and division odds to lengthen significantly.

For game-by-game betting, the Rangers become a team to approach with caution until the goaltending situation settles. Garand's limited experience creates uncertainty, and markets may not have fully adjusted. That could create value on New York's opponents, or on overs, in the short term.

The Verdexed model's daily views, including the Rangers' games with Garand in net, are on the NHL predictions page and in the daily NHL picks, such as the October 10 board.

What to do in your league

- Add: Dylan Garand, immediately. He should start most games for at least a month. - Stash: Spencer Martin in deep leagues only. - IR: Move Shesterkin to injured reserve if your league allows it. Hold him in keeper and dynasty formats. - Monitor: The Rangers' trade activity. An acquisition would change the goalie picture. - Rangers skaters: Do not overreact. The offense should still produce, though the team's overall results may suffer.

What's next

The Rangers host Vancouver on Sunday with Garand expected to start. Korpisalo's return in roughly a month will provide a second option, and any trade or signing could change the picture sooner. For now, Garand has a rare chance to establish himself as an NHL goalie, and fantasy managers who move quickly can benefit from the volume he is about to receive.