Dylan Garand

Early Life and Junior Career

Dylan Garand was born in Victoria, British Columbia and began his high-level hockey career in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). In the 2016-17 bantam prep season, he led the league in both goals against average (1.15) and save percentage (.959). His performance caught the attention of the Kamloops Blazers, who selected him in the third round, 58th overall, of the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. Garand also represented his province, winning a gold medal with Team British Columbia at the 2017 WHL Cup. His early playoff experience came at just 15 years old with the junior B Campbell River Storm in 2018, where he posted a 3-1 record, a 2.01 GAA, and a .925 save percentage in four postseason games.

Garand's first full WHL season was in 2018-19 as a 16-year-old. He became the Blazers' starting goaltender following an injury to Dylan Ferguson and helped lead the team to the playoffs. He played 42 games, recording a 2.94 goals against average and a .902 save percentage, ranking fifth and sixth among WHL rookie goalies in those categories respectively. His breakout campaign came in the 2019-20 season where he established himself as one of the league's elite netminders. Garand appeared in 42 games, posting a 2.21 GAA and a .921 save percentage, both third-best in the WHL, along with 28 wins and four shutouts. His academic and athletic excellence was recognized with the Daryl K. Seaman Trophy as the WHL's Scholastic Player of the Year. His performance also earned him an invitation to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Following that stellar season, the New York Rangers selected Dylan Garand in the fourth round, 103rd overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The pandemic-shortened 2020-21 WHL season limited him to 18 games for Kamloops, but he maintained elite numbers with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage. He also received his first professional experience, playing two games for the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. The 2021-22 season cemented his status as the top goaltender in Canadian major junior hockey. For Kamloops, Garand recorded a 2.16 GAA and a .925 save percentage, with his 34 wins tying for the WHL lead.

Key Junior Achievements:

• 2017: Wins gold with Team BC at the WHL Cup.
• 2019-20: Wins Daryl K. Seaman Trophy as WHL Scholastic Player of the Year.
• 2019-20: Posts a 2.21 GAA and .921 SV% in 42 games for Kamloops.
• 2020: Drafted by the New York Rangers (4th round, 103rd overall).
• 2021-22: Wins Del Wilson Trophy as WHL's top goaltender.
• 2021-22: Named WHL B.C. Division First Team All-Star.
• 2021-22: Wins CHL Goaltender of the Year award.
• 2022: Signs first professional contract with the New York Rangers.

Professional Career

Dylan Garand turned professional full-time for the 2022-23 season, assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League. His rookie AHL season saw him play 32 regular season games, posting a 3.01 goals against average and an .894 save percentage. His performance improved in the playoffs, where in eight appearances he recorded a 1.76 GAA, a .935 save percentage, and two shutouts, demonstrating a knack for performing under pressure. Rangers director of player personnel John Lilley noted that Garand had a good season and grew as a 20-year-old goaltender, stating the organization was excited about his path.

The 2023-24 season began with Garand in Hartford, though he received his first NHL recall on November 9, 2023, to serve as the Rangers' backup goaltender for a game against the Minnesota Wild. He was returned to the AHL after the game without making his debut. He helped Hartford on a playoff run, playing seven postseason games and reaching the third round before being recalled to the Rangers' NHL playoff roster as a reserve in May 2024. Prospect evaluators offered mixed reviews entering the 2024-25 season, with publications ranking him between sixth and eighth in the Rangers' system, with some noting he showed limited statistical improvement from his rookie AHL year.

Garand began the 2024-25 campaign with Hartford but earned another brief NHL recall in December 2024. His performance in the AHL that month was outstanding, earning him recognition as the AHL Goaltender of the Month for December 2024. He was also selected to play in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. Following the season, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Rangers. The 2025-26 season marked a major milestone. After starting with Hartford, Garand was recalled to the Rangers on March 20, 2026. He made his long-awaited NHL debut on March 22, 2026, against the Winnipeg Jets, making 35 saves on 37 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss. The 35 saves were the third-most by a Rangers goalie in their debut. He recorded his first NHL win just five days later on March 27, stopping 26 of 27 shots in a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

For the 2026-27 season, the Rangers initially assigned Garand to Hartford after opting for the experienced Joonas Korpisalo as Igor Shesterkin's backup. However, an injury to Korpisalo prompted an immediate recall after the first game. Garand recorded his first NHL shutout on October 2, 2026, in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings. When Shesterkin also sustained an injury, Garand assumed the starting role. He won his first three starts of that season, and combined with his two wins from 2025-26, he tied the Rangers franchise record for fewest starts needed to achieve five career wins, needing only six, a record he shares with Shesterkin and Cam Talbot.

His professional journey began with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League after he was assigned there before the 2022-23 NHL season. His development continued in the AHL, where he was named the AHL goaltender of the month for December 2024 and was selected for the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. This path was punctuated by NHL recalls, including his debut on March 22, 2026, and his first career shutout on October 2, 2026. He has demonstrated composure at the NHL level, tying a Rangers record for fewest starts needed to achieve five wins.

International Career

Dylan Garand has represented Canada at multiple levels of international competition, achieving significant success. His early international experience included playing for Canada Red at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and attending national development camps. He won a silver medal with Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Garand's first major tournament assignment came at the 2021 World Junior Championships where he served as the backup to Devon Levi. He played one game during the tournament, contributing to Canada's silver medal finish.

Garand returned for the 2022 World Junior Championships, a tournament famously disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played one game in the initial December 2021 portion before the event was cancelled. When the tournament resumed in August 2022, Garand was named Canada's starting goaltender. He excelled in the net, playing in six of Canada's seven games and winning all six of his starts. He posted a 1.98 goals against average backstopping Canada to the gold medal, a crowning achievement in his junior career. At the senior level, Garand was named to Canada's team for the 2025 IIHF World Championship. He started one game in the tournament, earning a shutout victory and further establishing his credentials on the international stage.

Playing Style and Reception

Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, Dylan Garand is considered relatively undersized for a modern NHL goaltender. However, coaches and analysts consistently praise the technical and mental aspects of his game that compensate for his stature. Dan De Palma, his goaltender coach with the Kamloops Blazers, highlighted Garand's exceptional puck-tracking ability and movement, noting his head trajectory on the puck is outstanding and his movement remains exceptional under chaotic conditions. Former NHL goaltender and Hockey Canada coach Jason LaBarbera emphasized Garand's adeptness at making saves with his hands, a skill not all goalies possess regardless of size.

LaBarbera also pointed to Garand's versatility, talent, positioning, and skating ability as key strengths, noting he stays down on the puck and does not chase it, giving himself opportunities to make saves. Garand himself has addressed the height question, stating simply that at the end of the day, a goaltender's job is to stop the puck, and if you can do that, height does not matter. His mental preparation is frequently cited as a standout trait. Hartford Wolf Pack coach Steve Smith, in 2023, called Garand a cerebral and hard-working kid who prepares for games as much as anyone in the locker room, expressing strong belief in his bright future. Fellow prospect Will Cuylle remarked on Garand's intense focus, saying he had never seen someone so dialed in.

Prospect analysis leading into the 2024-25 season presented a nuanced view. While some publications rated him as a top-ten prospect in the Rangers system, others expressed concerns. Analysts at McKeen's Hockey, while ranking him sixth, noted he showed little statistical improvement from his rookie AHL season and questioned whether his athleticism could overcome his size at the NHL level, though they acknowledged his marked improvement during the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs. This blend of high praise for his technique and work ethic with questions about his physical profile has defined the external narrative around Garand's development path.

Personal Life

Dylan Garand is the son of Loren Garand and has one brother named Jordan. Growing up, his favourite NHL team was the Minnesota Wild and his favourite player was star goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens, a fellow Canadian netminder known for his calm demeanour and technical prowess. Garand has credited his minor hockey coach, Matt Erhart, as his favourite coach from his developmental years. His commitment to academics alongside athletics was formally recognized when he won the WHL's Daryl K. Seaman Trophy as Scholastic Player of the Year in 2020. This balance between sport and education has been a consistent part of his profile as he ascended through the Canadian hockey system. He also participated in Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp virtually in July 2020 and attended the Program of Excellence goaltending camp in Calgary in June 2019.

Questions about Dylan Garand

When did Dylan Garand make his NHL debut?

Dylan Garand made his NHL debut on March 22, 2026, for the New York Rangers against the Winnipeg Jets. He performed admirably in the loss, making 35 saves on 37 shots faced. His 35 saves were the third-highest total for a Rangers goaltender in their debut game, behind only Alexandar Georgiev and Dan Blackburn. He recorded his first NHL win just a few days later on March 27, 2026, in a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

What awards did Dylan Garand win in junior hockey?

Garand won several major awards during his tenure with the Kamloops Blazers. In the 2019-20 season, he won the Daryl K. Seaman Trophy as the WHL's Scholastic Player of the Year. His dominant 2021-22 season earned him the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL's top goaltender and a spot on the WHL B.C. Division First All-Star Team. The culmination of his junior career was winning the CHL Goaltender of the Year award for the 2021-22 season, recognizing him as the top goaltender across all three leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.

Has Dylan Garand won any medals with Team Canada?

Yes, Dylan Garand has won multiple medals representing Canada. At the junior level, he won a silver medal at the 2021 World Junior Championships as a backup goaltender. He returned as the starter for the rescheduled 2022 World Junior Championships, playing in six games and winning all of them to backstop Canada to a gold medal. Earlier in his career, he also won a silver medal with Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

What is Dylan Garand's playing style?

Garand is considered relatively small for a goaltender at 6 feet 1 inch. Coaches praise his exceptional puck tracking, his efficient movement, and his ability to make saves with his hands. He is described as a cerebral and hard-working player who prepares extensively for games. Garand himself has stated that he focuses on sticking to his foundational game to be effective.

Where did Dylan Garand play junior hockey?

Dylan Garand played his junior hockey for the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League. He joined the team full time for the 2018-19 season and became their starting goaltender at age 16 after an injury to Dylan Ferguson. Garand played four seasons with Kamloops, culminating in the 2021-22 season where he won the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL's top goaltender and was named a First Team All-Star. His performance that year, including a 2.16 goals against average and a .925 save percentage, also earned him the CHL Goaltender of the Year award.

What is Dylan Garand's current role with the New York Rangers?

Dylan Garand is a professional goaltender within the New York Rangers organization, primarily playing for their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He has been recalled to the NHL Rangers on several occasions to serve as a backup or starter, often due to injuries. For the 2026-27 season, he began in the AHL but was recalled after the first game due to an injury to backup Joonas Korpisalo. Following an injury to starter Igor Shesterkin, Garand became the Rangers' starting goalie, recording his first career NHL shutout on October 2, 2026, against the Detroit Red Wings.

Sources and further reading

• Dylan Garand (Wikipedia)
• Player Profile, Dylan Garand, Hockey Canada (hockeycanada.ca)
• Dylan Garand, Fantasy Hockey Game Logs, Advanced Stats ... (frozenpool.dobbersports.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.