Jonathan Quick is the latest in an impressive lineage of New York Rangers backup goalies during the past two decades. Their NHL dominance at the No. 2 spot in the crease began once Kevin Weekes became Henrik Lundqvist’s backup in 2005-06.
A combination of goalie revivals, the brilliance of Rangers director of goaltending Benoit Allaire, and solid management decisions have contributed to this success.
Quick, the all-time NHL leader among United States-born goalies in wins, tops this list. He signed a one-year deal with his favorite childhood team on July 1, 2023, and has had a career renaissance since. After starting 9-0-1 in his first 10 games last season, the 38-year-old’s dominance in net eventually earned him another one-year deal to return as Igor Shesterkin’s backup this season.
Quick ended last season with an 18-6-2 record, two shutouts, and a .911 save percentage This season, Quick has picked up right where he left off. After recording back-to-back shutouts against the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken, Quick is 4-0-0 with a microscopic 0.91 goals-against average and .970 save percentage in five games (four starts).
The three-time Stanley Cup champion has aged like fine wine and is three wins away from 400. He would become the first U.S.-born goalie to reach this milestone and just the 15th in League history.
It’s easy to make the case that the Shesterkin-Quick pair is the best goalie tandem in the NHL.
Quick is simply carrying the torch for a string of excellent backup goalies have had since the Lundqvist era.
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After Jonathan Quick, top 5 Rangers backup goalies in past 2 decades
Let’s break down the top five backup goalies in the past two decades for the Rangers, other than Quick.
5. Steve Valiquette
Now the face of Rangers pre- and post-game coverage on MSG Networks, Steve Valiquette made his Rangers debut in the 2003-04 season, but made his mark as Lundqvist’s backup from 2007-09. He played 28 games those two seasons and was 10-8-5 with three shutouts. In 2007-08, he had an NHL career-best 2.19 GAA and .916 save percentage in 13 games (10 starts).
In all, he played 41 games for the Rangers into the 2009-10 season, his last in the NHL.
4. Martin Biron
Martin Biron played 16 NHL seasons with the Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and Buffalo Sabres. He joined the Rangers at the start of 2010-11 to back up Lundqvist. Although he played only 17 games that season, Biron posted NHL career bests in save percentage (.923) and goals-against average (2.13)
The Quebec native finished his NHL career with the Rangers. He had a 22-15-3 record in New York with two shutouts, a .908 save percentage and 2.47 GAA. He and Lundqvist were a standout veteran duo who became good friends during Biron’s tenure with the Rangers.
Biron now works on Sabres broadcasts, RDS in Quebec and NHL Radio Network.
3. Alexandar Georgiev
Alexandar Georgiev was a Lundqvist backup and then split time with The King and later Igor Shesterkin. Georgiev was a serviceable goalie during five seasons with the Rangers, before moving on to become a workhorse in Coloroado as the No. 1 with the Avalanche.
He recorded a .908 save percentage in 129 games with the Rangers, playing a lot more than backups did during Lundqvist’s busy heyday. Georgiev ended up being more than a backup, really a 1B, but was never fully a No. 1 with the Rangers.
2. Antti Raanta
Antti Raanta spent two seasons with the Rangers after the team acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. He served as Lundqvist’s backup in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Raanta was 27-14-4 in 55 games (44 starts) in two seasons, with a 2.25 GAA , .921 save percentage, and five shutouts. Raanta recorded an NHL career-high four shutouts in 26 starts in 2016-17.
In a shocking trade before the 2017 NHL Draft, the Rangers sent Raanta and Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Tony DeAngelo and the No. 7 pick, which was used to select disappointing center Lias Andersson. He left the NHL after playing with the Carolina Hurricanes last season.
1. Cam Talbot
There was one clear answer for the best Rangers backup goalie in the Henrik Lundqvist era. Cam Talbot emerged on the scene in New York after Biron retired once the 2013-14 season started. Talbot was 12-6-1 as a rookie with a 1.64 goals against average and a .941 save percentage.
Talbot really emerged the following season after Lundqvist ruptured a blood vessel in his neck in February. He started 23 of 25 games when Lunqvist was sidelined, winning 16. He finished the 2014-15 season with a 17-4-3 record and a lower goals against average (2.21) and save percentage (.926) than Lundqvist. However, it was Lundqvist who led them in the playoffs to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
Still, Talbot’s emergence as the starter was crucial to the Rangers winning the Presidents’ Trophy that season. He was awarded the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his play. After the season, Talbot was traded to the Edmonton Oilers to be their No. 1.
