The Rangers are adding some veteran goaltending depth to their organization in the wake of Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and Joonas Korpisalo’s presence on long-term injured reserve.
James Reimer, the 38-year-old who has played in 539 career NHL games, signed a professional tryout agreement with AHL Hartford, the Wolf Pack announced Thursday. Reimer can play in up to 25 games before they’d need to make a call on his future, and Hartford’s depth has been thinned with Dylan Garand and Spencer Martin — who began the season as the Blueshirts’ top two AHL options — now in the NHL. Callum Tung and Gabriel Carriere have been the Wolf Pack’s goaltenders so far. The Rangers said Saturday that Korpisalo would miss another four weeks.
Reimer hasn’t started more than 25 games in a season at the NHL level since 2022-23. Last season, he appeared in 14 with the Senators — including 13 starts — while posting a 7-4-2 record, an .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals against average. For his career, which began with the Maple Leafs in 2010-11, Reimer has recorded a .909 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average.
His is not a splashy name to drastically alter the Rangers’ goaltending picture, but Reimer will get a chance to carve out a place on the depth chart that has already experienced an overhaul since opening night. Before the Blueshirts’ second game of the season, Korpisalo was ruled out with a lower-body injury. Just over a week later, Shesterkin sustained a season-ending right knee injury.
The Rangers’ AHL affiliate Hartford has added veteran goalie James Reimer on a professional tryout. NHLI via Getty Images
That forced Garand — who’d lost the backup competition in training camp and was sent to Hartford after clearing waivers before getting recalled when Korpisalo sustained his injury — to become the starter.
Garand has thrived with his chance so far, winning both of his starts since Shesterkin’s injury entering Thursday’s match with the Devils. He has collected a .951 save percentage and 1.15 goals against average through his four appearances, with both numbers leading NHL goaltenders with at least three appearances.
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) is helped off the ice by Marcus Pettersson (26) and Sean Durzi (5) after suffering an injury during a game against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 9, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
Back in 2024-25, two years before Justin Dowling centered the Rangers’ fourth line Thursday, he was in a similar spot with the Devils. An early-season injury led to his recall from the AHL. He capitalized on the opportunity, carving out a role on New Jersey’s fourth line and skating in a career-high 52 NHL games that season.
He’s facing a similar chance this year with the Blueshirts. Joe Veleno, who opened the season as the fourth-line center, was projected by the team Sunday to be out another 3-3 ¹/₂ months with a lower-body injury. Cole Beaudoin, the 20-year-old acquired in the Vincent Trocheck trade, skated in four games before getting assigned to the Wolf Pack on Wednesday — allowing him to log more minutes in the AHL.
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That brought Dowling, who skated in two games with the Rangers last year, back to the Blueshirts as the next option. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jaroslav Chmelar skated alongside him against the Devils.
“He’s a veteran guy,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “He has some experience. He understands what he is. I think he can play within himself. He’s a smart player. He can move the puck. He sees the ice pretty well. He brings an element of experience, I think, that will help us.”
Matt Rempe and Scott Morrow were the Rangers’ scratches for Thursday’s game. … Garand made his third consecutive start.