A quick look at the impressive Rangers goaltending pipeline

Once upon a time mass panic would break out in Rangerland if Henrik Lundqvist was ever run into during a game. Who would take over? Rangers had nothing coming through the system. Well things appear to have changed. While Lundqvist is certainly in New York for quite some time to come, all of a sudden the Rangers appear well set at the goaltending position.

What started as a hot streak has turned into a solid NHL career. Cam Talbot has earned his new one year ($1.45m) extension thanks to backing up his great numbers from last season, this year. Talbot has proved to be a dependable backup and his performances have also flashed starter upside. At the very least, he’s shown that last year was no fluke even if his sample size remains relatively small (29 NHL games, 15 wins, an outrageous 6 shutouts in such a small timeframe).

While Talbot’s numbers this season are inflated as all his wins have come through shutouts, it’s hard not to be excited about a goaltender that, right now, is sporting a .938 save percentage at the NHL level. Talbot has absolutely solidified the Rangers goaltending position for the short to mid term and at worst, gives the Rangers an attractive trade asset.

What Talbot also gives the Rangers is a completely different look in net to Lundqvist. A strong puck handler with a big frame, Talbot is very different to Lundqvist in many ways which certainly forces opposing teams to change their thinking.

Beyond the NHL level, the Rangers appear to have several solid prospects making good progress. Obviously the two prospects currently playing in the World Junior Championships come to mind thanks to their shutout victories for Team USA and Russia respectively this weekend.

Brandon Halverson (2^nd round pick, 2014) had a shutout for Team USA this past weekend and has put up solid numbers in the OHL for the Greyhounds this season. Like Talbot, Halverson is a big goaltender at 6’4 and has intriguing upside. He appears to improve with every game played even though projecting his future isn’t easy as he hasn’t got a huge body of work to refer to at any level.

For Russia, Igor Shestyorkin also pitched a shutout this past weekend and he too offers a high ceiling. Currently playing limited minutes for a traditionally strong St Petersburg club in the KHL, Shestyorkin is already playing with men and could be an option for New York in a couple of years, right around the same time Talbot may be looking elsewhere for a starting gig at the NHL level.

Between Talbot at the NHL level and the prospects currently on the WJC stage, the Rangers potentially have a surprise on their hands in Mackenzie Skapski who is enjoying a very strong pro rookie campaign with Hartford. A 6^th round pick of the Rangers, Skapski is currently rocking solid numbers with a 7-5-2 record, a .923% and a 2.25GAA for Hartford. Very few people foresaw Skapski bursting onto the pro scene the way he has.

With a couple goaltenders at the junior level, and with Talbot really starting to establish himself at the NHL level, Skapski fits in the middle of the group in terms of development. If Skapski can continue to build on his fine start as a pro, he could find himself fighting for an NHL gig within two seasons.

The Rangers appear to be in a strong position with their goaltending. With arguably the best goaltender in the world tied down long term they are well set for the future. Beyond the King, they have four talented goaltenders at different stages of their development behind Lundqvist.

Of course, nothing can be taken for granted. People thought Dan Blackburn was the next great hope in net. Then people got excited about another high draft pick, Antoine Lafleur. He was a significant draft bust. Even Scott Stajcer flashed some talented but eventually disappeared off the horizon.

Developing goaltenders is an inexact science as evidenced by Henrik Lundqvist’s now infamous draft position – 205^th overall in 2000. With that said, the Rangers appear well served in net now and in the future.