If Chad Johnson’s Olympic-break struggles in the AHL have given Rangers management second thoughts about going the rest of the way with the rookie as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup, general manager Glen Sather claimed veteran understudy Alex Auld off re-entry waivers today.
The 29 year-old Auld, who was put on re-entry yesterday by Dallas, went 9-6-3 with a 3.00 goals against average and an .894 save percentage for the Stars before becoming expendable with the acquisition of Kari Lehtonen.
Auld, who has played for six teams in the last five seasons, carries a $500,000 full-season salary cap. The Blueshirts, who had approximately $1.2 million of space available, gain some room by exchanging Johnson’s $850,000 contract for Auld’s.
Johnson is 1-2-1 with a 2.35 GAA and .919 save percentage for the Blueshirts. But the 23-year-old went 0-4 with a 6.85 GAA and .780 save percentage last week for Hartford, where he is scheduled to play this weekend.
The Rangers, who have 20 games remaining in the season that re-opens Tuesday in Ottawa, had the eighth claim in the waiver process.