Focus will be on two Rangers rookies in what promises to be competitive training camp

Last season, Noah Laba proved that a strong training camp will be rewarded.The same rule still applies as multiple Rangers rookies prepare for the first on-ice session of the 2026-27 preseason Thursday.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

Of the 16 would-be rookies on the training camp roster, however, only two stand out as having the most legitimate chances before even stepping on the ice.Goalie Dylan Garand and defenseman Alberts Smits are both in the mix for the few open spots in the Blueshirts lineup.The backup job behind star netminder Igor Shesterkin is up for grabs after it was vacated by the since-retired Jonathan Quick.Garand will go toe-to-toe with veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for the role, which the 24-year-old started making a case for last season with a 2-0-1 record through his first three NHL games.Korpisalo was still brought in from Boston this summer — for Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round draft pick — to ignite some internal competition.“I think [Garand] showed us late in the season last year that he’s very capable of making saves in this league,” head coach Mike Sullivan said.

“That, in and of itself, just his overall growth and development, has given us a little bit more legitimate depth at the goaltending position.Korpy is a guy that I think is a bona fide NHL goalie that’s had success and has a body of work in this league that shows that he can be an effective goaltender, especially at the backup position.“He’s done an admirable job in the places that he’s been.

He’s done an admirable job in the places he’s beenWe feel like that position right now is competitive.I think ultimately as an organization the ultimate goal is to have fierce internal competition, healthy competition at all the positions.”As for Smits, Sullivan noted that the 18-year-old’s history of playing in international men’s ...