Former Rangers goalie Keith Kinkaid tries to finish ‘Metropolitan-area trio’ with Islanders PTO
Keith Kinkaid, who spent parts of two seasons as a backup goaltender with the New York Rangers, was at rookie camp with the New York Islanders on Thursday on a PTO. The 35-year-old is one of three goalies listed on the rookie roster.
Kinkaid is a Long Island native, who worked out this summer at the Islanders practice facility before landing the PTO.
“I did grow up an Islander fan,” Kinkaid said Thursday. “I loved coming to the [Nassau] Coliseum. That was always a joy of my life. It’s really cool. I played for the Devils and Rangers, I’m hoping we can make the Tri-State or Metropolitan-area trio.”
Kinkaid played nine games (seven starts) with the Rangers in 2020-21, when he had a 3-2-1 record, 2.59 goals-against average, one shutout and a save percentage of .898. He became the ninth U.S.-born goalie to play for the Rangers, joining Jack McCartan (the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner), Joe Schaefer, John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Richter, Mike Dunham, Steve Baker, Guy Hebert and Brandon Halverson. Jonathan Quick, a Connecticut native and the Rangers’ current backup to Igor Shesterkin, became the 10th last season.
He won his only appearance with them in 2021-22, making 29 saves in a 3-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 15, 2021. Kinkaid spent the rest of that season with Hartford, the Rangers AHL affiliate, where he was 20-14-3 with a 2.94 GAA, .904 save percentage and three shutouts.
The New Jersey Devils signed Kinkaid as an undrafted free agent in April 2011. Current Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was GM of the Devils at the time and signed him after he played two seasons at Union College.
He had an NHL career-high 26 wins, when he helped the Devils reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2017-18. That was the first of two consecutive seasons when he played in 41 games for the Devils.
“Lou knows me from the beginning of my career, so I’m hoping that I can show [the Islanders] what I’ve still got,” he said.
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Keith Kinkaid aims to be 12th to play for Rangers, Devils, Islanders
Kinkaid could become the 12th all-time to play for the Rangers, Devils and Islanders. But there’s a long way to go to even consider that. The Islanders are set with Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov on the varsity. And Kinkaid still needs to impress enough here in September to even land a minor league deal.
“I’m just putting my best foot forward. Be a pro, be a rookie, but just bring some experience,
Kinkaid explained. “Kinda show the way. This is my 14th season. I just want to do anything I can to turn heads. Still got a lot left in the tank and, yeah, go from there.”
Three other goalies played for each of the three Metro-area teams: Dunham, Vanbiesbrouck and Kevin Weekes.
The personable Kinkaid, nicknamed “Blockade,” played last season with Chicago of the AHL, appearing in 24 games with an 8-14-2 record, 3.54 GAA and .880 save percentage.
His last NHL action was in 2023, when he was 1-0-0 with the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Kinkaid played 28 minutes in relief with a no decision for Colorado on March 4, 2023.
Kinkaid has appeared in 169 NHL games, with a 70-58-21 record, 2.91 GAA, .905 save percentage and eight shutouts for the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Rangers, Bruins and Avalanche. That record includes a 2-2-0 mark in five appearances against the Rangers.
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