Is a 3 goalie system out of the question?

Negatives

Con #1

It hasn’t worked before and why would anyone expect a three goalie system to work for the Rangers.  The most recent example was the two seasons that the Islanders went with Jaroslav Halak, J.F. Berube and Thomas Greiss. Halak went along with it for over one season before he went public with his displeasure and he was traded.   The difference here is that with the Rangers we are talking about one veteran and two young goalies, a little different from the Islanders.  Let’s not forget that the Islanders front office was a walking disaster area as well.

Con # 2

Another reason a three goalie system doesn’t work is that it doesn’t give any of the three enough work.  Georgiev started 30 games last season for the Rangers and it felt like he hardly played.  Imagine that scenario for both Georgiev and Shesterkin.

Con # 3

The most compelling reason to go with a two goalie system next season is the opportunity to deal one of their young goalies this season.  There has been a lot of speculation about Georgiev and potential destinations like Toronto, Colorado or San Jose.  If the Rangers can extract a first round draft pick or a top prospect for Georgiev, shouldn’t they do it?

Con # 4

By keeping three goalies it automatically ends Henrik Lundqvist’s Ranger career after next season. This year he has demonstrated that he is still one of the better goalies in the NHL, though no longer elite.  In other words, he is a perfect back up.  What if Lundqvist agreed to a new contract after next season for reasonable terms so he could end his career as a Ranger?   A Shesterkin-Lundqvist or a Georgiev-Lundqvist tandem for the next two or three years could look pretty attractive.

Con # 5

This is the tough one.  Why go with a three goalie system if one of those goalies can’t cut it anymore?  A number of observers think that Henrik Lundqvist’s best days are behind him and the team should move on.  That means buying him out after this season.  A buyout would save the team $3 million in cap space in 2020-21, money they desperately need. It would add $1.5 million to the cap hit in 2021-22, but that would be year that they are free of the $10 million they are paying Marc Staal and Brendan Smith so they could afford it.  Is that really an option?

Summing up

No matter what, the Rangers need to get Igor Shesterkin to face NHL caliber competition and that means bringing him up to the Rangers and getting him some starts.  Alexander Georgiev will lose his waiver exempt status after he appears in one more game.   The team had an opportunity to send Georgiev to Hartford and give Shesterkin a tryout, but that opportunity is rapidly vanishing.

Lundqvist isn’t making these decisions any easier.  He still can steal games, just look at his 45 save effort against Carolina.  Then you look at his outing in Los Angeles where he allowed two goals that could have been stopped.

Without the waiver exemption, Georgiev isn’t going anywhere so it looks like we may actually see a three-headed goalie monster on the Rangers roster before this season is over if the team bring Shesterkin up.  If that happens, it could be a precursor of a roster option for the Rangers next season.  Tough decisions loom.