NHL2026-10-31Joonas Korpisalo Practices for the First Time as James Reimer Goes Day to Day: The Rangers' Goalie Depth Chart Before Sunday's Game Against Edmonton
By Verdexed NHL Desk
The New York Rangers got a piece of good goaltending news on Friday when Joonas Korpisalo practiced with the team for the first time this season, a step coach Mike Sullivan described as significant in his recovery from a lower-body injury. The bad news is that the goalie depth behind starter Dylan Garand is still thin: veteran James Reimer, signed after Igor Shesterkin's season-ending knee injury, is day to day with an upper-body issue, according to The Athletic's Vince Mercogliano.
For fantasy managers, Garand remains the Rangers goalie to roster, and the timeline for Korpisalo is the variable that could change that.
How the Rangers got here
Shesterkin injured his right knee on Oct. 9 against Washington, and the team later ruled him out for the rest of the season. That pushed Garand, a 24-year-old who had cleared waivers before the season and then shut out Detroit in his first look, into the starting role. The Rangers had planned to lean on Shesterkin and Korpisalo, but Korpisalo was already out; on Oct. 10, the club said he would miss roughly four more weeks.
New York added Reimer to stabilize the depth chart. His debut against the Kings was rough, with three goals allowed in a single period, and he is now nursing an upper-body injury.
| Goalie | Status | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Igor Shesterkin | Out for season | Right knee, injured Oct. 9 |
| Dylan Garand | Healthy, starter | Has carried the crease |
| Joonas Korpisalo | Practicing, not cleared | First practice Friday, partial session |
| James Reimer | Day to day | Upper-body injury, at practice Friday |
What Korpisalo's practice means
Korpisalo was limited to part of Friday's session as part of his medical plan, so this is not a sign he is ready to start. The four-week estimate from Oct. 10 would put him around the second week of November, and Friday's practice is consistent with that schedule rather than ahead of it.
Fantasy read: Korpisalo is a deep-league stash only. Once he is cleared, the Rangers would likely ease him in with spot starts, and Garand's performance will determine how quickly the split shifts. Do not drop a productive goalie to stash him.
Dylan Garand's fantasy value
Garand has been the most important player in the Rangers' season since Shesterkin's injury, and he has given the team a chance most nights. The value proposition is simple: a starter on a team that expects to compete is a weekly starter in most fantasy formats, even if the ratios are not elite.
The concern is workload. A young goalie carrying the crease with no reliable backup can wear down, and with Reimer banged up, the Rangers have had little room to rest him. That keeps Garand's start count high, which is good for wins and saves, but it carries ratio risk in back-to-back sets.
Fantasy read: start Garand in most matchups, and treat back-to-backs and elite opponents as sit decisions. He is a must-roster until Korpisalo is back and playing well.
Sunday's test: Connor McDavid and the Oilers
The next game is a tough one. The Rangers face Edmonton on Sunday, and Connor McDavid opened the season with a record 13-game assist streak and leads the NHL in points. The Oilers shut out Calgary on Wednesday, though they are missing Zach Hyman, who was ruled out with a neck injury earlier this week.
On the Rangers' blue line, Sean Durzi has been playing through an injury, and the team has weighed giving prospect Scott Morrow his debut. That bears watching: a defense in flux makes Garand's matchup harder.
Fantasy read: Sunday is a sit for Garand in leagues that weight ratios. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl against a stretched defense is the kind of matchup that sinks a goalie's GAA for a week.
The trade market
Reports have linked the Rangers to goaltending trade discussions, including speculation involving Montreal, since Shesterkin went down. Nothing has been reported as close, and Korpisalo's progress may reduce the urgency. But if New York does acquire a veteran, Garand's value would take a hit, and he would move toward a timeshare.
The betting angle
Goaltending is the biggest variable in NHL betting, and the Rangers' crease has been unsettled for three weeks. Garand's run has been better than expected, but the market will continue to price the Rangers with caution against high-powered offenses, especially if the backup is not healthy. Confirm the starter on Daily Faceoff before betting Sunday's game. For the model's daily view, see the NHL picks at /blog/nhl-picks-2026-11-01 and the live board at /nhl/predictions.
What to do in your league
Start: Dylan Garand in most matchups, but consider sitting him Sunday against Edmonton.
Stash: Joonas Korpisalo in deep leagues only.
Ignore: James Reimer until he is healthy and has a defined role.
Watch: Any Rangers goalie trade. An acquisition would turn Garand from a weekly starter into a matchup play.