Rangers Waive Reimer After One Start, Durzi Hits IR

The New York Rangers made two roster moves Thursday ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Defenseman Sean Durzi was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to October 26, with an undisclosed ailment.

Goaltender James Reimer was placed on waivers, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.

Neither transaction is surprising, given how the past two weeks have unfolded.

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

Because the injury occurred 10 days ago, the Rangers can activate Durzi as soon as he is fully healthy.

It does not sound like he is far away from returning.

Earlier Thursday morning, Remy Mastey of The Hockey News quoted head coach Mike Sullivan on Durzi’s status.

“I don’t know that he’s going to make the trip initially,” Sullivan said.

“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.”

After tonight’s game against the Flyers, New York embarks on a four-game road trip through the NHL’s Pacific Division.

Once Durzi returns, he will likely resume his role in the Rangers’ top four, paired next to Marcus Pettersson.

That defensive pairing has played nearly 190 minutes together this season.

According to MoneyPuck, the duo has earned a 44.4% expected goals percentage.

Durzi has scored two goals and five points in 14 games this season, with a minus-1 rating.

This is his first year with the Rangers.

The injury itself has been handled unusually quietly by the organization.

The Rangers have not classified it as upper body or lower body — a rare omission in NHL injury reporting.

Placing Durzi on IR does not free up cap space, but it does open a roster spot for a potential recall.

The team could be using that spot to bring an extra player on the western road trip.

Because the IR designation is retroactive to October 26, Durzi has already cleared the seven-day minimum.

He is eligible to be removed from IR as soon as he is medically cleared.

Now for the goaltending side of the news.

James Reimer, 38, was placed on waivers Thursday after making just one start for the Rangers.

That start lasted only one period.

On October 26, also against the Kings, Reimer was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots in 20 minutes.

The Rangers lost that game at home.

New York signed Reimer late last month to a contract for this season.

The hope was that he could spell Dylan Garand, who had been playing almost nonstop since franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Instead, Reimer struggled in his only chance, and Garand has now started 11 consecutive games.

Garand’s performance has been a tale of two stretches.

In his first six games, he posted a 1.85 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.

In his past five games, those numbers have dropped to 3.50 and .877.

Reimer going on waivers now signals that Joonas Korpisalo is nearing a return from his lower-body injury.

Korpisalo stopped 34 of the 37 shots he faced in a minor league rehab start with Hartford on Wednesday night.

That is a .918 save percentage in a loss to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

If Reimer clears waivers in the next 24 hours, he will likely remain on the roster until Korpisalo is fully healthy.

That gives the Rangers additional roster flexibility.

If Reimer is claimed by one of the NHL’s other 31 teams, he will join that club.

If he clears, he can be sent to Hartford of the American Hockey League.

There, he would serve as the backup to Callum Tung with the Wolf Pack.

The goalie carousel began when Korpisalo got hurt during the first week of the season.

The Rangers acquired Korpisalo from Boston over the summer to back up Shesterkin.

Garand cleared waivers prior to opening night and was sent to the AHL to play regularly.

He was recalled when Korpisalo got injured.