Trusted New York Rangers Reporter Takes Brutal Jab At Superstar Goaltender Igor Shesterkin
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Awarded a $92 million contract at the end of last season, Igor Shesterkin has placed a target on himself. That will carry the burden of expectations, as one of the highest-paid goalies in the league (above Carey Price). For Mike Sullivan and Chris Drury, they could expect this to be a bounce-back year for the team. What are the expectations he will face?
Igor Shesterkin is a former Vezina Trophy winner in the NHL. He was once considered an elite goalie past his rookie deal.
However, last season it seemed to be a trend as all New York Rangers players would take a step back, including Shesterkin in 2024-25.
Despite that, he'd sign a rich $92 million, $11.5 million AAV deal with the team, rewarding him for his past successes, with the hope of building on them in the future. In 2025, they'll need him to play up to that value.
While Shesterkin is 100-59-15 in the three seasons since winning the Vezina, he's had some dips and hiccups during that span - especially last season, when his won-lost record (27-29-5), goals-against average (2.86) and save percentage (.905) were all the worst of his NHL career.
For the Rangers, they expect the most out of him, considering he's their highest-paid goalie, and when he's at his best could take the team to the playoffs.
«You're paying him now to be that 100 percent definite, all-in belief on your goaltender,» Rangers beat writer Mollie Walker of the New York Post said on a recent episode of the DLLS Dallas Stars podcast. «He's supposed to steal all the games for you and such - especially with a price tag like that.»
But now, the team needs him to deliver on his perceived $11.5 million AAV value, a value that pays him even more than the Senators' Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman of the Bruins.
The New York Rangers Need Stability In The Crease
Last season, Shesterkin finished the year with 21.6 GSA%, which ranked fourth best in the NHL. This is a major step back from his 2021-22 Vezina Trophy season, where he posted a 34.1 GSA %. He found a certain level of play that gave him success, but the team in front wasn't the same that won a Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24.
With a core built to win now and a Stanley Cup-winning coach behind the bench in Mike Sullivan, the Rangers hope that they can make a leap forward back into playoff contention, and Shesterkin needs to play his part.
That'll require a team that practices defense responsibly and takes accountability for its faults.
With Mike Sullivan, whose coached players like Marc-Andre Fleury who's now a Hall of Famer thank to Sullivan's help we could see Shesterkin return to form.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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