NEW YORK, July 13, 2022 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Jaroslav Halak on a one-year contract.
Halak, 37, has appeared in 556 career NHL games (531 starts), split between the Vancouver Canucks (2021-22), Boston Bruins (2018-19 – 2020-21), New York Islanders (2014-15 – 2017-18), Washington Capitals (2013-14), St. Louis Blues (2010-11 – 2013-14), and Montreal Canadiens (2006-07 – 2009-10). He has compiled a 285-18-4 record, .916 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average across 16 NHL seasons. The Bratislava, Slovakia native made 17 appearances (14 starts) in his first season with the Canucks in 2021-22, posting a 4-7-2 record, 2.94 goals against average and .903 save percentage. He made a season-high 39 saves on November 28, 2021 at Boston.
Halak has been a part of a William M. Jennings Trophy (award given to goalies on the team that had the fewest goals against) winning duo on two occasions, in 2019-20 with Boston and 2011-12 with St. Louis. He has also finished in the top-10 of Vezina Trophy voting twice, in 2011-12 and 2009-10. With Boston in 2019-20, he had the sixth-best goals against average (2.39) in the NHL. In 2014-15 with the Islanders, Halak posted a career-high 38 wins, in a career-high 59 games, and was named to the NHL All-Star Game. In 2011-12, he recorded a career-high in save percentage (.926) and goals against average (1.97).
The 5-11, 185-pound goaltender has made 39 career appearances (37 starts) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning 17 games, and posting a 2.48 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. In 2010, Halak started in 18 playoff games for the Montreal Canadiens en route to a berth in the Eastern Conference Final. Halak was originally selected by the Canadiens in the ninth round, 271st overall of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.