There is no goalie controversy for the Rangers

When the New York Rangers announced that goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been cleared to return to practice, most of the Ranger Twitter-verse united in cheers of “WOOHOO!” But a few people stated that the Rangers now have a goalie controversy. Cam Talbot has been playing out of his mind the past few games, and has done a fantastic job of filling in for Lundqvist while he was injured.

Let me be clear: There is no goaltender controversy for the Rangers.

Talbot has been great after a few shaky games to begin his run as a starter. He’s carried the Rangers through major SH% regression, leading them to a likely division win and a potential President’s Trophy. That said, Henrik Lundqvist is the starting goaltender for the New York Rangers. Period.

I understand that every now and then you need to ride the hot goaltender. This generally applies to teams that don’t have the best and most consistent goalie in the NHL. The Rangers have that in Lundqvist. Very few teams have what the Rangers have. The rule of riding the hot goaltender doesn’t apply to teams like the Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens, or Predators. We’d chastise them if they pulled Rask, Price, or Rinne in favor of a hot backup.

As soon as Lundqvist is ready for game action, he will be in a game, and Mackenzie Skapski will be returned to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. I expect to see Lundqvist and Talbot split the starts down the stretch, as the Rangers will likely ease Lundqvist back into action. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a 50/50 split. There’s no reason for the Rangers to rush Lundqvist back.

But once the playoffs start, Lundqvist will get every single start. He’s an All World goaltender, and he’s the guy that will carry the Rangers if they are to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup. If Lundqvist has a bad game, Talbot will relieve him –like he did in the Eastern Conference Finals last season– and then Lundqvist will start the next game.

Talbot has proven himself a capable starter, in a small sample, and could be of serious interest to a number of teams next summer. But that’s next summer. There’s a whole lot of hockey between now and July. There is no goaltender controversy in New York. The Rangers will ease Lundqvist back, and then ride him in the playoffs. Make no mistake, this team only goes as far as their best player takes them.