The New York Rangers took care of an easy bit of business on Sunday, and the value on Dylan Garand's two-year extension is arguably better than anyone could have expected. With Jonathan Quick now a member of the NHLPA alumni after announcing his retirement, it was all but guaranteed that Garand would get the first chance to be the team's next backup, and the latest deal gives the team a lot of flexibility if he ends up being the wrong man for the job.
Garand's contract carries a $875,000 AAV
Dylan Garand’s two-year deal is a two-way contract the first year ($850,000 at NHL level) and a one-way contract the second year at $900,000. So AAV is $875,000 at the NHL level. https://t.co/DX1mCRAsOr
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) June 21, 2026
Not that the Rangers are tight on cash or cap space, but the first year of his deal pays him less in the event he is assigned to Hartford, and the second year is a guaranteed $900,000 no matter what level he's at. That Garand got a two-way deal, at least in year one, is very surprising.
Garand's performance should have earned him slightly better deal
Garand’s AHL numbers this season feature a record of 16-15-2, 2.83 goals against average, and a .896 save percentage. That sample with the Wolf Pack are not completely reflective of his abilities as a goalie, and it is fair to say he was betrayed by a porous Hartford defense. His brief stint with the Blueshirts was very impressive, and during his brief 2-0-1 audition, Garand was solid and quite efficient. Garand finished his trial with a 1.62 goals against average, a .948 save percentage, and courtesy of Evolving-Hockey he posted a 4.88 GSAA (goals saved above average) and a 5.38 GSAx (goals saved above expected).
Those numbers, in my opinion, warranted him getting a deal that guarantees him his salary no matter where he plays next season. He wasn't in a position to command a deal that pays him $1 million or above, but a guaranteed deal certainly felt in the cards.
At the end of the day, though, Garand got his wish for now. He said he was motivated to be in the NHL next season, and he will get every chance to earn the backup job in training camp. The Rangers are paying Igor Shesterkin $11.5 million to be their starting netminder, and it benefits them to have a cheap backup like Garand to bring down the average cost of their total tandem.
While they likely will look to sign a goalie with NHL experience to have in the system, similar to what they did previously with Louis Domingue, there really isn't a need to do so. Spencer Martin remains around, not that he should ever be back at the NHL level, and Garand should be given the chance to play in the NHL no matter the outcome. The long-term goal is development, and there's not much more for him to learn in Hartford. Here's to hoping the Rangers allow him to continue growing, and not quash his dreams by bringing in another veteran retread like they have in recent years.
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