Dylan Garand stopped all 22 shots in a 2-0 Rangers win in Detroit last night, and some fans are wondering why he isn't playing more.
It was the second half of a back-to-back, and Mike Sullivan handed the 24-year-old the net. He delivered a shutout in his first appearance of the season.
One Rangers fan summed up the frustration: "I don't know why Rangers don't think Dylan Garand is ready for NHL games?"
The same post joked that he must struggle in practice, "because everytime he plays a game, he looks extremely solid."
The Rangers are now 2-1-0 after opening with a 3-0 loss in Boston. The shutout came against a Detroit team whose own fans were chanting "sell the team."
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The price makes it even better. The young goalie carries an $875,000 cap hit.
Igor Shesterkin's workload could open more starts for Garand
Igor Shesterkin carries an $11,567,857 cap hit and remains the clear No. 1. Nobody is arguing that.
But a reliable backup lets Sullivan protect his star over a long season. That's where Garand's audition matters most.
Sullivan should give him a regular rotation, not just back-to-backs. A 24-year-old who answers the call like this has earned more than scraps.
It's like a restaurant keeping its best dish off the menu because the head chef hasn't signed off on it yet.
Chris Drury built this roster with Shesterkin as the foundation. A cheap backup who can steal nights adds a layer most teams don't have.
The Rangers host Utah on Sunday. Then the question becomes how long Sullivan can keep the kid on the bench.
One shutout doesn't make a starter. But it does make the next time Garand sits a lot harder to explain.
Should Dylan Garand get more starts for the Rangers?
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