Blueshirt Banter · May 31, 2017
The Backup Plan: Finding the next Antti Raanta
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY SportsDuring the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Rangers traded Ryan Haggerty to Chicago for goaltender Antti Raanta to replace goalie Cam Talbot – who the Rangers traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a package of draft picks that included a 2nd, 3rd, and a 7th round pick all in the 2015 draft. When Talbot came up to the Rangers during the 2013-14 season, he established himself as a solid back up to Henrik Lundqvist and continued his strong play into the 2014 season – proving that he was ready to claim a starter’s spot on a team that didn’t have one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history in front of him. In stepped Antti Raanta to fill the void left in Talbot’s wake. But now it’s time to talk about replacing the Finnish backup.