New York Rangers prospect Dylan Garand possesses the ideal trait for a goaltender: confidence.
This past season, Garand broke out as an American Hockey League star with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The 23-year-old goalie recorded a 20-10-9 record, .913 save percentage, and 2.73 goals against average while also representing the Atlantic Division at the AHL All-Star Game during the 2024-25 season.
“I feel pretty good about it,” Garand said. “Obviously, as a team, not where we wanted to finish, I’d have preferred we wrapped up months after April, but that’s kind of just the way it went this year.
“I’m proud of the way I laid it on the line every night and competed,I tried to give the guys a chance to win every night. I think it was a good year for myself on a personal level, and I learned a lot.”
Garand was rewarded with a one-year, two-way contract extension from the Rangers worth a league minimum of $775,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level, with $125,000 guaranteed.
The hockey community also seemed to take notice of Garand’s success, as he was one of the three goalies named to Team Canada’s roster for the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
Garand feels that his game speaks for itself, and he’s more than capable of taking the next step to the NHL if he’s given the opportunity.
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“I think I showed this year that I can be one of, if not the, best goalies in this league and NHL caliber,” Garand said. “Obviously, I’m waiting for my opportunity up top. I know that if I keep putting in the work, that’ll come. Wherever I am, whether it is up there or here, I’m going to compete to win and keep working hard and getting better every day.
“If I’m in Hartford, I’m really excited to carry the load for this team. It’s exciting looking forward to that.”