Yes, indeed, there is a competition between Martin Biron and Johan Hedberg for the backup goaltending spot behind Henrik Lundqvist.
“I would say yes, in the sense that we invited Hedberg at the last minute, and if we brought him in, obviously we’re going to give him a chance,” Rangers’ coach Alain Vigneault said on Friday. “Marty is aware of it, we had a discussion.”
Biron, who spent the last two seasons backing up Lundqvist, joined the club Friday morning and then skated for the first time in the afternoon after having missed the opening two days of camp in order to return to his offseason home in Buffalo to deal with a personal issue.
“The organization has to do what it thinks is best,” said Biron, who did not identify the personal matter that kept him away. “Moose [Hedberg] is a great guy, and I got to talk to him this morning, and we kind of joked around a little bit, but I’m here; I’m here and focused.
“Whatever I need to do, I’m going to do. I’m 100 percent ready to compete and give everything I’ve got for the guys and the team.”
The 36-year-old Biron is entering the final year of his contract that carries a $1.3 million cap charge. Hedberg is at camp on a tryout basis. If the 40-year-old Hedberg were to win the job, the Rangers certainly would benefit by trading Biron in order to avoid the
$375,000 cap hit they’d take by sending No. 43 through waivers to the AHL Wolf Pack.
Biron, who expressed appreciation to the organization for being supportive this week, started only five games last year after going
12-6-2 in 20 starts in 2011-12. Vigneault said he expects his backup goaltender to get between 15 and 20 starts this season.
“In an Olympic year, with the number of four-games-in-six nights and three-games-in-four-nights on the schedule, you need a backup to play, whether it’s 15 or 20 games, and win us some games,” Vigneault said.
“That’s part of the equation to get into the playoffs and to be able to have a [No. 1] goaltender come playoff time that has some energy and jump in his legs.”