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New York Rangers sign restricted free agent goaltender Marek Mazanec

The New York Rangers announced they have agreed to terms with restricted free agent goaltender Marek Mazanec on Tuesday afternoon.

The New York Rangers announced that they have signed free agent goaltender Marek Mazanec to a one-year contract on Tuesday afternoon.

Mazanec, 26, split this past season between HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. He appeared in 20 games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18, posting an 11-6-2 record, along with a 2.97 goals against average, and a. 905 save percentage.

He has appeared in 31 career NHL games, all as a member of the Nashville Predators (from 2013-2017), along with 185 career AHL games over parts of five seasons (2013-2018). He’s posted a 93-66-29 record, along with a 2.63 goals against average, a .909 save percentage, and 11 shutouts.

As the Rangers have Alexandar Georgiev and now Mazanec under contract the team will most likely not re-sign last year’s backup goaltender Ondrej Pavelec.

Pavelec only appeared in 19 games for the Rangers last season, posting a record of 4-9-1-1 with a 3.05 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. The backup goalie sustained an injury in February, and only appeared in three more games during the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old Georgiev was called up from the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack to fill in for the injured Pavelec and appeared in 10 games with a 4-4-1 record and a 3.25 goals against average along with a .918 save percentage. His confidence in net was what stood out most in his time with the team.

The Rangers’ goaltender decisions are most important right now as the face of the franchise, Henrik Lundqvist, will be returning for his 14th NHL season. The 36-year-old appeared in 63 games last season, winning 26. It was the first time in his career, other than the lockout season in 2012-13, that he did not win 30 games.

Mazanec is expected to start the season in the AHL.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at Nyrfc12@gmail.com