What a 32-Year-Old Veteran Backup Goaltender Brings to the 26-27 NY Rangers
Just a month prior, this New York Rangers team was looking a whole lot different. What was once a roster fans weren’t so ecstatic to see heading into the 26-27 season has turned into something fans may actually look forward to. With a few changes to the defense and some intriguing moves at the start of free agency, general manager Chris Drury has given fans a taste of what could be the right direction for this team. Amongst a few promising moves came a few questionable ones, and a recent goaltending pickup has most fans scratching their heads. Since the retirement of their previous backup, Jonathan Quick, most assumed Dylan Garand would be the no-doubt choice for backup this upcoming season, but now he’ll have to compete for that spot with a veteran goaltender. You got a goalie prospect who made an impressive debut, and Joonas Korpisalo, a veteran whose numbers may scream superstar, but can he still bring something to the Blueshirts?
Picked up in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick and prospect Kalle Vaisanen, Korpisalo spent his previous two seasons with the Boston Bruins, serving as backup to Jeremy Swayman. Despite the 'Bruins' struggles, the 32-year-old proved to be a solid backup, and talks even surfaced about him taking over as the starter due to Swayman's struggles. He finished last season with a 14-9-6 record, a 3.15 GAA, and a .894 save percentage, helping Boston bounce back after the 24-25 season and earning a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they fell to Buffalo in six games. A typical tenure for a backup goalie, though not nearly as clutch as he was playing in Columbus, the Finnish goaltender may be a key part of developing this Rangers team in front of him.
It’s safe to say that for nearly two decades, the Blueshirts have been blessed with stellar goaltending. From the good days of seeing Henrik Lundqvist to the present, watching Igor Shesterkin fill ‘Kink Henrik’s’ shoes. It’s also safe to say that these New York Rangers haven’t been close to the defense that wins it all, mainly relying on their star goaltenders to steal them big games in both the regular season and the postseason. With Korpisalo potentially backing up Igor, the Blueshirts could very well use this as a way to, at long last, build a team in front of their goalie and fix their defensive problem for good. The numbers the former Bruin has had over the last few seasons are more than enough proof he’ll be nowhere near the level of Shesterkin, and if a few poor performances help these Rangers at long last stop relying on goaltending, fans should be all for it.
