Garand's Tough Season: Roasts and Resilience

Dylan Garand, a goalie prospect for the New York Rangers, is candid about his struggles this season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. He admits to reading online criticism, stating, "Everyone just roasts me about how bad I've been this year." Despite his team's poor standing, Garand insists his performance is better than his statistics, which he calls "laughable." He believes analytical video evidence would better showcase his play than his 11-12-2 record, .889 save percentage, and 3.07 goals-against average suggest.

Garand, an AHL All-Star last season, experienced a notable dip in performance after a strong December 2025. His situation was further complicated when he was passed over for an NHL debut despite an injury to Rangers' starter Igor Shesterkin in January 2026. This led to a meeting with Rangers management, though Garand remained tight-lipped about its details. He finds inspiration in players like Brandon Bussi, who transitioned from the AHL to NHL success. Garand emphasizes patience and self-belief, stating, "I can make every save at any level."