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New York Rangers goalies: The future is bright

By Brett Schultz

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Evander Kane #9 of the San Jose Sharks is stopped by Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on February 22, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Evander Kane #9 of the San Jose Sharks is stopped by Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on February 22, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Olof Lindbom #1 of the Sweden Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament  (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
Olof Lindbom #1 of the Sweden Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament  (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

A Swedish goaltender? It will never work!

There was a bit of a stir in RangerLand when the team selected Olof Lindbom with the 39th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. It was nothing personal against the 17-year old Swede, but many people thought Lindbom would still be available in the third or fourth round and it was a waste to use a second on him.

What drives Rangers’ fans crazy is that this has happened before. General Manager Jeff Gorton used another second-round pick on goaltender Brandon Halverson, picked 59th overall in 2014.  And what did the team get in return? Not much. 1 game in the NHL, 13 minutes played, 1 goal allowed, and a record of 0-0-0. Halverson is no longer with the team and hasn’t been in the news lately, other than Steve Paulus’ recent article on Rangers’ One-Game Wonders.

But Olof Lindbom made a splash at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, helping Sweden win the bronze medal. Then, at the Swedish U18 Playoffs, he earned MVP honors with a 1.20 GAA and .955 save percentage.

Lindbom spent most of the 2019-20 season playing in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second-highest hockey league, though his stats were mediocre. Luckily, there’s no rush to get him NHL-ready.

One negative: Legally, he can’t be called ‘Olie the Goalie’. Apparently, that’s trademarked or something.

A big dog in the Wolf Pack

Adam Huska‘s pro career did not get off to an auspicious start. After starring at UConn, he only won once in 9 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack at the end of the 2018-19 season. But the 22-year old Slovakian netminder, drafted in the 7th round (184th overall) in the 2015 NHL draft, settled in last season, establishing himself as the backup to Igor Shesterkin.

He moved up to first-string after Shesterkin was promoted to the NHL, compiling a 3.03 GAA and .894 save percentage in 28 games.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 20: Adam Huska #32 of the New York Rangers braces for a third period shot from P.K. Subban #76 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on September 20, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 20: Adam Huska #32 of the New York Rangers braces for a third period shot from P.K. Subban #76 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on September 20, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Another year of seasoning and instruction in positioning and rebound control will benefit him immensely.  He and Jean-François Bérubé (also currently with Hartford) will compete for the top slot next season, which should push both players.

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