Dylan Garand is no longer waiver-exempt, meaning he will either make the Rangers' NHL roster this year or the club will have to put him through waivers. Rich Graessle / Getty ImagesJune 21, 2026 3:19 pm EDT Updated The Rangers signed restricted free agent goalie Dylan Garand to a two-year extension. The 24-year-old is set to compete for the backup goalie job behind star Igor Shesterkin.Garand’s contract will carry an $875,000 cap hit at the NHL level, per a league source. His contract is a two-way deal for the first year, meaning he’ll make a different amount if he’s in the NHL ($850,000) than he will if in the AHL ($400,000). The second year of his contract is one way for $900,000. Garand will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the deal.Garand made his NHL debut late in the 2025-26 season. He played three games, going 2-0-1 with a .948 save percentage. He’s no longer waiver-exempt, meaning he will either make the Rangers’ NHL roster this year or the club will have to put him through waivers — giving another team the chance to claim him — to send him to the AHL.

“I’m definitely hungry to play in this league and for this organization,” Garand said on the team’s end-of-season breakup day. “It’s very motivating for me going back (into) the summer. To be here and see what it takes, now I know. I know what I need to do this summer to come in and be prepared and put my best foot forward and execute.”Shesterkin, Garand and Spencer Martin are the organization’s three goalies under contract with NHL experience. With Jonathan Quick retiring, there’s an opening for the No. 2 job at the NHL level. Garand has warranted consideration, especially given his waiver status. He had an .896 save percentage in 36 AHL games last year, but finished strong, posting a .900 or better save percentage in 10 of his last 11 AHL games before coming up to the NHL. The team could still explore bringing in another veteran to compete for the backup job.The Rangers’ other remaining RFAs include Braden Schneider, Vincent Iorio, Scott Morrow and Brett Berard.Jun 21, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms