Four players were placed on waivers Tuesday by the New York Rangers, including goalie Louis Domingue. It’s expected that the four will be assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League if each clears waivers Wednesday.
The Rangers also placed defensemen Casey Fitzgerald and Brandon Scanlin on waivers, along with forward Anton Blidh
It was expected that each of these players would be on Hartford’s roster this season when training camp started. That includes Domingue, even though he’s the most recognizable name on this list.
The 32-year-old goalie has 143 games of NHL experience, including one game with the Rangers last season. Domingue made 25 saves in a 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild in his Rangers debut last Nov. 9.
He’s the No. 3 goalie in the Rangers organization, behind Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, and ahead of third-year pro Dylan Garand, his partner in Hartford. Domingue originally signed with the Rangers as a free agent after he starred against them in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following injuries to goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, Domingue was 3-3 in six games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, a series the Rangers won in seven.
Last season, Domingue was 16-8-4 with a 2.66 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and one shutout with Hartford.
Domingue has allowed one goal on 27 shots in two appearances in which he played 50:18 this preseason.
Two defensemen, one forward also placed on waivers by Rangers
Fitzgerald was signed by the Rangers this summer as a free agent. The 27-year-old is the son of New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, and has 63 games of NHL experience with the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers.
He was scoreless in two preseason games.
Scanlin also was held without a point in two preseason games in September. The 25-year-old had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 64 games with Hartford last season.
He made his NHL debut with the Rangers on March 26 last season, the night the Rangers clinched a playoff berth with a 6-5 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Scanlin was held scoreless in the game.
Blidh scored the Rangers only goal in their 3-1 preseason loss to the Devils on Monday. The 29-year-old has played 85 NHL games, including one last season with the Rangers. He also totaled 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 64 games with Hartford.