RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FREE AGENT GOALTENDER DUSTIN TOKARSKI
BY: The New York Rangers
NEW YORK, August 20, 2018 – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Dustin Tokarski on a one-year contract.
Tokarski, 28, has appeared in 34 career NHL games over parts of six seasons (2009-10; 2011-12; 2013-14 – 2016-17) with Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Anaheim, posting a 10-12-5 record, along with a 2.84 GAA, a .904 SV%, and 1 SO. He established NHL career-highs in appearances (17) and wins (six) with the Canadiens during the 2014-15 season, and he posted a 2.75 GAA and a .910 SV% in those 17 appearances. In addition, Tokarski made five appearances with Montreal during the Eastern Conference Final in 2014 against the Rangers and posted a 2-3 record, along with a 2.60 GAA and a .916 SV%.
The 6-0, 204-pounder appeared in 39 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, posting a 20-8-7 record, along with a 2.65 GAA, a .915 SV%, and 5 SO. Tokarski tied for third in the AHL in SO in 2017-18, and he posted four shutouts over his final 14 appearances of the season. In addition, Tokarski helped Lehigh Valley advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs, and he made three playoff appearances this past season.
Tokarski has appeared in 315 career AHL games over parts of nine seasons (2009-10 – 2017-18), posting a 166-109-12 record, along with a 2.52 GAA, a .911 SV%, and 24 SO. He led the AHL in wins during the 2011-12 season (32), and he helped Norfolk win the Calder Cup as AHL Champions in 2011-12 by posting a 12-2 record, along with a 1.46 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 3 SO in 14 playoff appearances. He participated in the AHL All-Star Game during the 2013-14 season.
Prior to beginning his professional career, the Watson, Saskatchewan native played three seasons of junior hockey (2006-07 – 2008-09) with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). In 2007-08, Tokarski helped Spokane win the WHL Championship and the Memorial Cup, and he also received the Stafford Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Memorial Cup Tournament. In international competition, Tokarski won a gold medal while representing Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Tokarski was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round, 122nd overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
