New York Rangers assign 5 players to AHL Hartford after 4 clear waivers

The New York Rangers assigned five players to Hartford of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, including four players who cleared waivers.

Goalie Louis Domingue, forward Anton Blidh and defensemen Brandon Scanlin and Casey Fitzgerald each was placed on waivers Tuesday and cleared Wednesday. Goalie Dylan Garand was also assigned to Hartford; he did not require waivers.

It was expected that each of these players would be on Hartford’s roster this season when training camp started. That includes Domingue, even though he’s the most recognizable name on this list.

The 32-year-old goalie has 143 games of NHL experience, including one game with the Rangers last season. Domingue made 25 saves in a 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild in his Rangers debut last Nov. 9.

He’s the No. 3 goalie in the organization, behind Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick but ahead of Garand, the third-year pro who’s his partner in Hartford. Domingue originally signed with the Rangers as a free agent after he starred against them in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following injuries to goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, Domingue was 3-3 in six games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, a series the Rangers won in seven.

Domingue was 16-8-4 with a 2.66 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and one shutout with Hartford last season. He has allowed one goal on 27 shots in two appearances this preseason, playing a total of 50:18.

Related: Rangers make another round of cuts, including Adam Sykora, trim roster to 36

Rangers assign 5 players to Hartford of the AHL

Garand appeared in two preseason games and had an .897 save percentage and 3.62 GAA. He allowed two goals on 16 shots, playing the third period Tuesday in a 5-4 win against the New Jersey Devils.

The 22-year-old won 16 games and had a 3.03 GAA last season with Hartford. But he stood out in the Calder Cup Playoffs, posting a 5-4 record in nine starts, along with a 2.59 GAA and sterling .922 save percentage.

Fitzgerald was signed by the Rangers this summer as a free agent. The 27-year-old is the son of Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, and has 63 games of NHL experience with the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers.

He was scoreless in two preseason games.

Scanlin also was held without a point in two preseason games in September. The 25-year-old had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 64 games with Hartford last season.

He made his NHL debut with the Rangers on March 26 last season, the night the Rangers clinched a playoff berth with a 6-5 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Scanlin was held scoreless in the game.

Blidh scored the Rangers only goal in their 3-1 preseason loss to the Devils on Monday. The 29-year-old has played 85 NHL games, including one last season with the Rangers. He had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 64 games with Hartford.

The Rangers now have 30 players remaining in training camp.

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