Igor Shesterkin Gets Backup Goalie Competition

Igor Shesterkin's team, the New York Rangers, acquired veteran goalie Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

The Rangers traded a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft and AHL forward Kalle Väisänen for Korpisalo.

Korpisalo has 334 games of NHL experience and will compete with rookie Dylan Garand to be Shesterkin's backup in 2026-27.

The move adds depth to the Rangers' goaltending, considering Shesterkin has topped 60 starts just once in his seven-year NHL career.

General manager Chris Drury made the move to replace recently retired Jonathan Quick.

Korpisalo's addition likely pushes Garand back to AHL Hartford, but the Rangers would have to pass Garand through waivers to do so.

The trade seems confusing, given the Rangers re-signed Garand to a two-year contract worth $1.75 million.

Korpisalo's contract will cost the Rangers $3 million of cap room per season for two years.

The 32-year-old goalie had a 3.15 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 31 games for Boston last season.

Drury's move may block Garand's development as a potential backup goalie.

Garand had a 1.62 GAA and .948 save percentage in three starts after a late-season callup.

The Rangers didn't give up much to acquire Korpisalo, but it could be argued that trading anything is too much for a replacement-level backup goalie.