On Monday at 2 PM, both Dylan Garand and Taylor Raddysh cleared waivers. The Rangers assigned each to the Hartford Wolf Pack for the start of the American Hockey League later this week. The Wolf Pack open up at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this Saturday on Oct. 3.

By leaving Garand exposed on Sunday, Chris Drury gambled that the 2020 fourth round pick wouldn’t be claimed. With the Jets deciding to claim former Capitals goalie Clay Stevenson, the risk paid off. Now, Garand can begin his fourth pro season as the Wolf Pack starting goalie. The 24-year-old former 2025 AHL All-Star will look to prove that he deserves to be an NHL backup. A ‘battle‘ he lost to veteran Joonas Korpisalo, who Drury prefers.

To be perfectly blunt, it’s rather absurd how the organization views Garand. At what point will their philosophy shift of choosing experienced backups over an NHL ready goalie prospect who’s paid his dues? Perhaps when or if the mediocre Korpisalo struggles, they’ll rethink the decision to give up a fourth round pick for a 32-year-old career backup. Korpisalo is coming off a bad year with the Bruins in which he posted a 3.15 goals-against-average and .894 save percentage.

In fact, he’s posted a sub-.900 save percentage the past three seasons. His career best in save percentage came in 2022-23 when he had a .914 with both the Blue Jackets and Kings. Then, the Senators made the mistake of signing him to a five-year, $20 million contract on July 1, 2023. After he flopped badly as a starter, they traded him with Mark Kastelic and a 2024 first round pick to the Bruins for Linus Ullmark.

Following two years as the backup behind Jeremy Swayman, Korpisalo was dumped to the Rangers, who absorbed $6 million of the remainder of his contract that expires in 2028. If it doesn’t work out, Drury will wind up eating more salary in dead cap space. Something that’s become a frequent occurrence. While the Rangers will go with Korpisalo to back up Igor Shesterkin, the Bruins are banking on former Canucks prospect Michael Dipietro to back up Swayman. Once a Vancouver 2017 third round pick, he’s appeared in four NHL games.

To be fair, most teams have the same philosophy when it comes to the backup position. However, not every general manager is cut out of the same mold. Over the weekend, the Devils put journeyman David Rittich on waivers and claimed Remi Poirier from the Stars. A year older than Garand, he’s never played in the NHL. However, he performed well for the Texas Stars in the AHL in 2025-26. Poirier will turn 25 on Oct. 6.

New GM Sunny Mehta isn’t afraid to roll the dice. He also stole Amadeus Lombardi from the Red Wings. Lombardi made the team and will start on the fourth line over vets Jesper Boqvist and Stefan Noesen. He’ll make his NHL debut later this week.

From a Rangers viewpoint, it would be nice if Drury got with the times. Matt Rempe would be a solid fourth line player if we were in the 1990s or 2000s. He really doesn’t have a place on a roster. It isn’t like he can contribute anything of value aside from the occasional big hit or scrap, which he isn’t good at. His size can be utilized to screen goalies on the forecheck. There isn’t much else he can bring.

Similar high character players can provide more. The best examples of fourth liners that can contribute are Marcus Foligno, Adam Klapka, Kastelic, and A.J. Greer. There are more skilled types such as Mathieu Olivier and Kiefer Sherwood, with both becoming top nine players due to their ability to score goals and play shorthanded. Lawson Crouse and Jamie McBain play on the same line due to what they add for the Mammoth.

Let’s put it this way. Rempe was developed by the Rangers. His popularity grew in stature due to his introduction to the NHL. Taking on tough customers like Matt Martin and Olivier earned respect from his peers. However, he also got suspended twice for illegal checks that injured players. Jonas Siegenthaler was concussed on one of them. He toned it down the last two years. With Sullivan wanting to see him pick his spots, Rempe made the mistake of taking on Ryan Reaves last season. The end result led to two thumb surgeries due to connecting with Reaves’ helmet. It cost him most of the year. He was ineffective when the Rangers rushed him back for no reason.

In 85 career games, Rempe has totaled five goals and six assists for 11 points with 149 penalty minutes. Now 24, the 2020 sixth round pick is likely in his last NHL season. If he struggles to establish himself, the more skilled Jaroslav Chmelar will play instead.

The thing is that the Rangers have options in Hartford. Dylan Roobroeck had a good showing in training camp. He is close to graduating. Three years younger and selected in the same round in 2023, the 22-year-old center should be knocking on the door. Adam Sykora proved that he could contribute when he was brought up last season by having three goals and an assist in 11 contests. Unfortunately, it’ll be a long road back from the serious lower-body injury he sustained in preseason against the Devils.

Even Raddysh has proven he’s capable of contributing. Once Drury signed Eeli Tolvanen, that made Raddysh expendable. Only a year ago, he started the season in the top nine and even found his way up when called upon. However, Sullivan also played favorites like nephew in law Conor Sheary. With key additions Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstand solidifying the top nine, there won’t be any of that.

Who’s to say Raddysh can’t come back up and play a fourth line role? He’s way more skilled than Rempe. It’s just that the Rangers prefer to have a grinding line with more size. That’s why Chmelar made the team. He’s on a two-way deal, which means they can send him down.

For now anyway, Rempe is expected to start the season on the new fourth line with Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye when the Rangers visit the Bruins tomorrow night. We’ll see where things go.