New Rangers back-up Antti Raanta talks marriage, new team
It's been a hectic offseason for Antti Raanta
The 26-year-old goaltender hoisted the Stanley Cup as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks on June 15, only to learn 12 days later that he had been traded to the New York Rangers. The timing was tough to digest for Raanta, who was in the midst of planning for his wedding in early July.
"It was a pretty amazing stretch, so many great things going on, but now life is back to normal," Raanta told Blueshirts United. "To get that phone call, to get traded in the middle of all that, it's just all pretty amazing. I think the honeymoon was the first time I had a chance to relax and realize what has happened the last few weeks."
Raanta told the website that he welcomes the chance to serve as Henrik Lundqvist's backup, a role left open after the Rangers traded Cam Talbot to Edmonton on June 27.
"I have always watched him, and everyone in the NHL knows that he's one of the best goalies in the world," Raanta said to Blueshirts United of Lundqvist.
Raanta posted a 13-5-4 mark in 25 appearances in 2013-14 before finding himself as the odd-man out in Chicago last season despite recording pretty decent stats with a 1.89 goals-against average and two shutouts in 14 contests.
(h/t Blueshirts United)
Photo credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
