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New York Rangers: Georgiev’s development exciting for Rangers future

By Sean Treppedi

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Alexandar Georgiev
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Alexandar Georgiev /
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New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has been taking full advantage of the auspicious opportunities he has received in the waning moments of a dead season.

Rising New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has comforted the fan base in knowing that the future transition from the illustrious Henrik Lundqvist to the next era in Rangers goaltending should be smooth sailing.

Georgiev has started the last three games in net as the coaching staff has been letting him get a taste of the NHL in the dog days of this rebuilding season.

He has been a rock in each of the three nail-biting tilts while posting a 2-0-1 record accompanied by 107 saves.

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Georgiev is another piece of this wave of Rangers youngsters that has stepped into the limelight this season while only being 22-years-old and showing maturity as an NHL netminder.

It is good to see that the Rangers have a young goaltending prospect that is NHL ready and can be eased into the position while receiving a bulky work load in the remaining years of Lundqvist’s reign.

This bodes well for Lundqvist as well as he can remain the number one goaltender while getting more games off and saving some juice in the tank.

After the Rangers shipped away two future starters in their last two backups in Cam Talbot and Anti Raanta, it seemed as if the Rangers were going to be in a precarious position with their future goaltending situation with really nobody else to bank on in the organization.

Even though it only has been a total of seven games played for Georgiev, he has shown consistency and composure during high pressure scenarios and for a 22-year-old goaltender, I think that is impressive.

More times than not you will see a goaltender make his NHL debut and play lights out because of the emotion and then the next game he’s shaky. Georgiev has given us just enough so far to prove he could be something.

He stands at 6’1” and I love the athleticism he displays with his rebound control and abilities to make tough second and third saves (which have to happen frequently these days).

His career highlight came in a cinematic moment last week when he stared down one of the world’s best players in Evgeni Malkin for a penalty shot which he stopped with 10.7 seconds left in a tied game that would be won by the Rangers in overtime.

If you can stop a player like him one-on-one with that pressure I think the sky is the limit.

Goaltending prospects are a dime a dozen in the NHL. You never know who has starting capabilities and who doesn’t. Yes, scouting reports have some value, but did anybody think that the seventh-round pick, Henrik Lundqvist, would become “the King”? No.

How about when the Islanders drafted Rick DiPietro overall in 2000, did they think his career would turn out the way it did? Probably not.

It’s a shot in the dark, and when someone comes up through your organization and makes a break through, it is exciting.

Many franchises have struggled with finding a solid number one goaltender for years while Ranger fans have been spoiled with Henrik Lundqvist and the likes of Talbot, Raanta and now Georgiev to back him.

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It takes time for goaltenders to mature before they can play at this level be someone who can be entrusted with facing NHL shooters on a regular basis.

That is why when you find a young player that can kill the lights and perform as Georgiev has in these past three games, you’d better hold on to him.

Georgiev came into the picture at the perfect time as antsy Rangers fans want this rebuild to be as quick as possible. Having a 22-year-old goalie who can handle consecutive games is definitely reassuring.

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