Rangers waive goalie James Reimer after only one start

The New York Rangers placed defenseman Sean Durzi on injured reserve and waived goaltender James Reimer on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Neither move came as a surprise to those following the team.

Durzi, 28, has not played since the Rangers' October 26 game against the Los Angeles Kings.

His injury has not been disclosed — not even classified as upper body or lower body, which team officials have declined to specify.

The Rangers placed him on IR retroactive to October 26, making him eligible to be activated as soon as he is healthy.

Because the seven-day minimum has already passed, Durzi can return immediately when cleared.

Head coach Mike Sullivan was asked about Durzi's status earlier this week.

"I don't know that he's going to make the trip initially," Sullivan said, according to The Hockey News.

"I think it all depends on how he progresses, whether he comes initially on the road trip with us. If he doesn't, I would anticipate him joining us. Something of that nature."

The Rangers face the Philadelphia Flyers at home Wednesday night before embarking on a four-game road trip through the NHL's Pacific Division.

Durzi had played 14 games for New York this season, scoring two goals and five points with a minus-1 rating.

He had been paired with Marcus Pettersson in the Rangers' top four, logging nearly 190 minutes together.

According to MoneyPuck, that pairing posted a 44.4% expected goals percentage.

Once Durzi returns, he is expected to resume that role.

The Reimer situation is more definitive.

Reimer, 38, made his only Rangers start on October 27.

He allowed three goals on eight shots in a single period of work.

That was the extent of his season in New York — one game, one period, three goals against, and now a waiver wire.

The veteran goaltender has 539 regular-season NHL games on his résumé.

He was signed as a depth option while Joonas Korpisalo recovered from a foot injury.

Korpisalo was assigned to the AHL on a conditioning stint Tuesday.

In his first game back, he stopped 34 of 37 shots — a .918 save percentage — in a loss to the Hershey Bears.

That performance signaled he is ready to return to the NHL.

Korpisalo is listed on injured reserve and was expected to be out until at least November 9, according to the latest injury report.

Once healthy, there is no room for a third goaltender on the roster.

Carrying Reimer through that return would have been a luxury the Rangers did not need.

If Reimer clears waivers within 24 hours, he will likely remain on the roster until Korpisalo is fully healthy, providing additional flexibility.

After that, he is expected to serve as the backup for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' AHL affiliate, behind Callum Tung.

This was always the plan, according to team sources.

Reimer was never intended to be a long-term answer.

The Rangers are 8-7-1 through 16 games, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division.

They are 7-2-0 at home but just 1-5-1 on the road.