Rangers DFA Reimer After Brief, Struggles in First Start
The New York Rangers placed goaltender James Reimer on waivers after he allowed three goals on eight shots in just one period of his lone start. The move comes as Joonas Korpisalo nears a return from a lower-body injury, reclaiming the backup role. Reimer had previously been used as insurance during injuries to Shesterkin and Korpisalo, but his poor performance prompted the quick roster adjustment.
The New York Rangers placed goaltender James Reimer on waivers on November 5, 2026, after he allowed three goals on eight shots in just one period during his lone start against the Los Angeles Kings on October 26. The game ended in a 6-3 loss, with Reimer pulled early as backup Dylan Garand took over. Reimer had been signed to a one-year contract earlier that month following injuries to starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin and backup Joonas Korpisalo, serving primarily as insurance during their absences. His brief stint in the NHL was limited to four games on the bench and one period of action. The move comes amid Korpisalo’s return from a lower-body injury; he recently completed a rehab start with Hartford, stopping 34 of 37 shots, signaling his imminent reintegration into the lineup. Garand, who had started all 11 games since Shesterkin’s season-ending knee injury, has seen his performance dip recently—his goals-against average rose to 3.50 over the last five games, down from a strong 1.85 in his first six. Reimer’s best showing this season came in a shutout against Providence with Hartford on October 23, where he stopped 35 shots. If he clears waivers, he will return to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The Rangers also placed defenseman Sean Durzi on injured reserve retroactive to October 26, meaning he will miss their upcoming four-game Pacific Division trip.
The decision reflects a strategic recalibration by the Rangers’ front office: with Korpisalo nearing full health and
The Rangers’ decision to DFA Reimer highlights the precarious nature of NHL roster spots, particularly in goaltending, where performance is measured in fractions of a percentage point and moments can define careers. This move could signal a broader trend toward rapid turnover in backup roles when performance dips, even after minimal action—underscoring how little margin for error exists at the highest level. The impact extends beyond Reimer: it may influence how teams evaluate depth players, especially those signed mid-season as insurance. Garand’s recent decline, despite an early strong start, shows that even promising performances can falter under sustained pressure, raising questions about long-term reliability and development timelines for young goalies. A comparable case is the 2019 Boston Bruins’ decision to bench Tuukka Rask in favor of Jaroslav Halak after a poor stretch, which ultimately reshaped their playoff rotation. Here, the Rangers may be hedging against inconsistency by