The New York Rangers announced on Monday the signing of free agent goalie Dustin Tokarski to a one-year contract.
New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton announced on Monday that the team has agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Dustin Tokarski on a one-year contract. The contract was for the league minimum of $650,000 per Capfriendly.com.
Full #NYR Press Release: https://t.co/nhHYG0vHKe https://t.co/7inwDtHrpK
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 20, 2018
The signing of Tokarski will provide a competitive environment as he and Alexandar Georgiev will now battle for the backup position to Henrik Lundqvist. Georgiev appeared in 10 games for New York last season, posting a 4-4 record, 3.15 goals against average and .918 save percentage. It has been presumed that Georgiev would be the backup for the upcoming season as the Rangers did not offer last year’s back up, Ondrej Pavelec, a new contract.
Tokarski, 28, has appeared in 34 career National Hockey League games over parts of six seasons (2009-10; 2011-12; 2013-14; 2016-17) with Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Anaheim, posting a 10-12-5 record, along with a 2.84 goals against average, a .904 save percentage and one shutout.
Tokarski appeared in five games with the Montreal Canadiens during the Eastern Conference Final in 2014 against the Rangers as he filled in for injured goalie Carey Price (the famous Chris Kreider collision), posting a 2-3 record, along with a 2.60 goals against average and .916 save percentage.
The unrestricted free agent goaltender played in 39 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League this past season, posting a 20-8-7 record, along with a 2.65 goals against average and .915 save percentage with five shutouts, which had him tied for third in that category. Tokarski posted four shutouts over his final 14 appearances of the season. In addition, he helped Lehigh Valley advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs appearing in three playoff games.
The Rangers first preseason game is less than a month away and the organization is still putting the finishing touches on their training camp roster.
The Rangers will visit the New Jersey Devils on Sept. 17 to kick off their preseason schedule.
