David Rittich Has Given The Islanders Exactly What They Needed — Why An Extension Makes Sense
The Islanders signed David Rittich to a one-year deal worth $1 million annually this past summer. It's been a signing that's worked wonders.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from The Elmonters.
ELMONT, NY — When the New York Islanders announced the signing of veteran goaltender David Rittich to a one-year deal worth $1 million, there wasn’t much hype surrounding the move.
Rittich had struggled mightily in his second season with the Los Angeles Kings, posting a 2.84 GAA and an .886 save percentage in 34 appearances, and the Islanders simply needed someone reliable for nights when starting netminder Ilya Sorokin needed a break.
Fast forward to the Christmas break, and Rittich and the Islanders have been a match made in heaven.
In 13 starts this season, Rittich is 8-3-2 with a 2.42 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He hasn’t just kept the Islanders in games — he’s flat-out won a handful of them.
His 13.2 Goals Saved Above Expected ranks 15th out of 61 goaltenders to play 10+ NHL games this season.
He stopped 31 of 33 shots in his first start of the season to earn the Islanders their first win, knocking off Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, 4–2, to stop an 0-3-0 slide.
He was also part of a dramatic 3–2 come-from-behind overtime victory against the Utah Mammoth, stopping 28 of 30 shots before Matthew Schaefer played hero.
Rittich’s last two starts before the break were especially impressive. He helped the Islanders earn a point in a 3–2 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres, turning aside 30 of 32 shots through regulation and overtime.
Then, on Tuesday night, Rittich was phenomenal against the New Jersey Devils, stopping 31 of 32 shots before Adam Pelech scored with 1:15 remaining in regulation to secure two critical points heading into the holiday break.
That start carried even more importance, as Sorokin was unavailable due to a nagging issue.
Following the win, The Elmonters asked Rittich what it’s been like to be part of this Islanders team — one that entered the break sitting third in the Metropolitan Division, with Rittich playing a significant role in that success.
“It’s been awesome since I got here. I’m enjoying every second,” Rittich said. “The fans are awesome. I have probably never been in a better locker room before. It’s obviously hard to compare, but we’ll see what the future is going to bring. I’ll remember this forever.”
When the Islanders evaluated Rittich this summer, they weren’t solely focused on his most recent season.
“Well, I mean, we’ve seen him — the year before, his numbers were great in LA,” Mathieu Darche said. “He’s had good moments in Calgary. And when you’re looking for a goalie — and obviously you have the cap and all that — we felt with his experience… and he’s got a big personality, which is great. He brings life to the room. He’s got the nickname ‘Big Save Dave,’ so he’s done quite a few of those. We’ve been extremely happy.”
Because of how well Rittich has played, the Islanders haven’t had to rely on Sorokin night after night — which might be the most crucial part of all this.
Sorokin, who is 12-10-2 with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 save percentage, has made 24 starts through 37 games this season, putting him on pace for 53 starts. That would be his lowest total since the 2021-22 season (52).
“You won’t see goalies play 70–72 games like Marty Brodeur,” Darche said. “The game’s too demanding. We have 16 back-to-backs. So right there, there are 16 games you rarely put your same goalie in twice. Whether Sorokin’s in net or Dave is in net, we feel very comfortable.”
And they should.
To put things into perspective, Sorokin played 61 games last season. Semyon Varlamov made just 10 starts before his injury, while Marcus Hogberg played in 15 games (11 starts).
That’s just 21 starts from the backup position — an enormous workload placed on Sorokin.
Rittich already sits at 13 starts, and the season hasn’t even reached its halfway point.
As Rittich said, the future is unknown. But bringing him back on a two-year deal worth $1.5-$2 million annually would make plenty of sense for the franchise.
The odds of Varlamov returning at this point appear incredibly slim. He’s doing the basics, but there’s no timetable for his return, and at 37 years old — as difficult as it is to say — it’s hard to envision him playing again. Varlamov is in the third season of a four-year deal, worth $2.75 million annually. Perhaps the Islanders could find a team willing to take on that contract, as the Buffalo Sabres did when they acquired Johnny Boychuk.
The Islanders also have two highly talented goaltenders in the pipeline from the 2024 NHL Draft: Dmitry Gamzin (No. 115) and Marcus Gidlof (No. 147).
Dmitry Gamzin, CSKA Moscow (KHL): 11-6-3, 1.81 GAA, .929 SV%
Marcus Gidlof, Leksands IF (SHL): 3-5-0, 2.90 GAA, .888 SV%
Both are at least a season away from joining the organization — Gamzin still has two years remaining on his contract — making Rittich an ideal short-term solution until those prospects are ready.
While the first half of the season isn’t yet complete, one reason for optimism is Rittich’s consistency. Sure, there have been a few games where he hasn’t looked his best, but more often than not, he’s risen to the occasion.
His work ethic is second to none. He keeps the room light, makes teammates laugh, and even brings that same energy into media scrums.
Backup goaltenders can make or break a season. And when you have one you trust — like Patrick Roy trusts Rittich — it’s best to keep them around, even if only in the short term.
New York Islanders Make Annual Hospital Visits
The New York Islanders made their annual holiday hospital visits today. The players and mascot, Sparky, visited seven hospitals throughout the region, including: Cohen Children’s Medical Center, New Hyde Park; Stony Brook Hospital, Stony Brook; St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital, Bayside; Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow; Good Samaritan Hospital, West Islip; NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, Mineola; and Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn.
Players visited hospital playrooms and children’s bedside as well, distributing toys, providing autographs, and taking pictures.
