Report: Rangers Have Scouted Utah Starting Goalie After Shesterkin Injury
Friedman said on Monday’s 32 Thoughts Podcast that “Vejmelka and Luukkonen are two of the guys they’ve scouted.”
He added that “whatever Chris Drury is going to do here with the injury to Shesterkin, it could set a chain reaction around the league.”
Shesterkin’s Injury Left The Rangers Thin
Shesterkin, 30, hurt his right knee in a 3-1 loss at Washington on October 9, and the Rangers announced the next day that he’s out for the season after he started 3-1 with a 1.79 goals-against average.
Joonas Korpisalo is also hurt and is expected to miss about four weeks with a lower-body injury, which leaves 24-year-old Dylan Garand in net, and he's won three of his first five starts with an impressive .927 save percentage and a shutout.
David Pagnotta: Re Connor Hellebuyck trade request: I think Utah's still lurking in the weeds; Karel Vejmelka would have to be part of the mix going back - DFO Insider (10/7)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) October 9, 2026
Friedman said Drury isn’t rushing a move, and TSN’s Darren Dreger said last week that the Rangers want to use the combination they have, though there are plenty of options available.
Vejmelka’s $4.75 million cap hit is more than the roughly $4.4 million in cap space listed for New York, so a trade would likely require the Rangers to send salary back.
Vejmelka Is Utah’s Workhorse
Vejmelka is 30 and in the second year of a five-year, $23.75 million contract that carries a $4.75 million cap hit through 2029-30, with a $5.75 million base salary this season, and he has a modified no-trade clause.
He won 38 games with a .897 save percentage in 64 starts last season as Utah made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and he’s 5-2-0 with a 2.89 goals-against average and .879 save percentage through eight games this season.
Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin noted that only two goalies started more games over the past two seasons, and Utah’s other goalie is 23-year-old Sebastian Cossa, who carries a $2 million cap hit through 2027-28.
Karel Vejmelka got a 10-minute misconduct penalty for grabbing a Sabres player's stick and chucking it into the netting during a scrum 😭😅 https://t.co/1GMHRZ5kK4
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 11, 2026
Friedman said he believes Utah is determined to land Connor Hellebuyck, and The Fourth Period noted the Mammoth would likely move Vejmelka to Winnipeg or another team if that happens, with the suggestion being the Rangers could be that other team.
