With Dylan Garand facing some fatigue, with Igor Shesterkin out for the year, with the injured Joonas Korpisalo just beginning to skate on his own and with Spencer Martin not a viable option to start, 38-year-old James Reimer turned a professional tryout agreement into an NHL deal for the second consecutive year. 

And this one will help the Rangers goaltending puzzle for at least the short term. 

The Rangers signed Reimer to a one-year deal worth $850,000 after he was released from his PTO with AHL Hartford, according to The Post’s Mollie Walker. Reimer, who participated in their optional practice Sunday ahead of Monday’s game against the Kings, has appeared in 539 career NHL games and delivered a 35-save shutout during his lone Wolf Pack start. And he’ll now give the Rangers a viable option alongside Garand — who has started seven consecutive games since Shesterkin’s injury and, while impressing at plenty of points, has recorded just a 1-3-1 record and an .869 save percentage over his past five starts. 

“He has a body of work in the league and has proven to be a very competent goalie,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of Reimer. “Given the circumstance that we’re in, I think [president and general manager Chris Drury] felt like he could give us some help in that regard. Dylan has had a heavy workload.” 

Reimer logged 14 games — with a 7-4-2 record, an .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average — with the Senators after turning a PTO into a one-year deal last year, but after going unsigned in the offseason, he tried to stay ready at home. He trained with the British Columbia Hockey League’s West Kelowna Warriors and Vernon Vipers, facing shots and staying in game shape nearby while waiting for a phone call with his next chance. 

The Rangers have signed goalie James Reimer to an NHL deal. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

When Shesterkin jammed his right skate into the post during the second week of the season, the Rangers needed goaltending depth with Korpisalo — who began skating on his own Saturday for the first time since his injury — already on long-term injured reserve. Reimer inked his PTO with the Wolf Pack on Oct. 17 and, six days later, became the second-oldest goaltender to record an AHL shutout after Wade Flaherty (40 years, 62 days) in March 2008. 

“I’m really content with my NHL career,” Reimer said. “I don’t need to play. I want to play. I love playing this game, and so if the situation is right and it works kinda for my family and whatnot, then it’s something you stay ready for — and you make it happen.” 

In the present, Reimer’s addition is a telling sign about Martin, whom the Rangers selected over Garand as the backup last year when Shesterkin was injured and who appeared in one game in relief of Garand this season. 

New York Rangers goalie Dylan Garand (33) plays during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When asked if Garand is dealing with physical or mental fatigue, Sullivan admitted Sunday that “I think there’s a little bit of both.” Garand has struggled with controlling rebounds and allowed five goals during each of the Rangers’ past two losses, though Sullivan said that Garand made key saves Saturday and that the Rangers need to do a better job in front of him after surrendering quality chances. 

New York Rangers Dylan Garand (33) makes a save in the third period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I think it’s hard to just throw a blanket over it,” Sullivan said. “I think on the surface, when you look at the amount of goals we gave up over the last two games, it’s easy to say, well, we need more saves. But I think there’s more to it than that.” 

Reimer won’t instantly solve the Blueshirts goaltender scramble. When asked what the Rangers have told him about his role, Reimer said: “We’ll see. … I’m enjoying the process.” It’s not a splashy addition like the one the Devils made Friday across the Hudson River, when they acquired Connor Hellebuyck in a blockbuster that instantly fixed their most glaring weakness. The Rangers have continued to reiterate their belief in Garand. Korpisalo is “making progress,” Sullivan said, and the 32-year-old netminder will add 334 games of NHL experience when he returns. 

James Reimer #47 of the Ottawa Senators leaves the ice after warmup prior to an NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 15, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. NHLI via Getty Images

And the addition of Reimer, who followed the blueprint he used with Ottawa in 2025-26 to make it back again one year later, will provide a window to give Garand some rest at least. 

“I knew that I was gonna stay ready for a couple months,” Reimer said, “and so I stuck with that — and yeah, I mean, obviously, there’s days where you’re driving to a workout or a skate and you’re wondering: ‘Is this all for nothing? What am I doing?’ 

“But, you know, you stick with it, and lucky enough for me, something came available.”