Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin named top goalie by NHL Network

As if Igor Shesterkin needed any more support in his bid to become the highest-paid goalie in NHL history, NHL Network named the New York Rangers netminder the top goalie in the League heading into the 2024-25 season.

Shesterkin moved up one spot in the network’s annual rankings, after finishing second behind Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning a year ago. Vasilevskiy ranked third this year after being No. 1 five seasons in a row. Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner from the Winnipeg Jets, was No. 2 in the NHL Network goalie rankings, which was announced Thursday.

“I think he is the most talented guy in terms of his skating ability, his edge work, his hand-eye coordination, his make up,” former NHL goalie and current analyst Cory Schneider said on the broadcast Thursday. “There are very few guys who, even if they’re not playing that well or they’re off that night, you’re still scared of him. He’s entering that Carey Price, [Henrik] Lundqvist, Marty Brodeur territory where, man, we’ve got to play Igor tonight.”

The NHL Network panel pointed out that Shesterkin played his best down the stretch last season after working through some issues in his game. It stood out how, when the Rangers needed him most, Shesterkin delivered.

He had a .930 save percentage in his final 22 starts when the Rangers barely held off the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division and Dallas Stars for the Presidents’ Trophy. Then he was New York’s best player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially in the Eastern Conference Final when Shesterkin nearly stole the series and carried his team into the Cup Final before losing in six games.

“That means you’ve got a money goalie,” analyst and long-time NHL coach Bruce Boudreau explained. “When they needed it … he was there. And he was there on a nightly basis.”

Shestekin’s .927 postseason save percentage in 16 games this past spring was second among goalies that played at least five games. Only Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins was better (.933 in 12 games).

His stellar postseason numbers aren’t surprising because he’s been consistently excellent during the playoffs in his career. Shesterkin has a .928 save percentage in 44 Stanley Cup Playoff games and has led the Rangers to the conference final twice in the past three seasons.

Related: Igor Shesterkin picks Sergei Bobrovsky as best goalie in NHL

Igor Shesterkin ‘passes eye test, too’ with Rangers

As Schneider pointed out, Shesterkin’s got the numbers to be named top goalie in the League.

His 109 wins the past three seasons are most by any NHL goalie. Overall, Shesterkin is a stunning 135-59-17 in 213 career games, with a 2.43 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and 15 shutouts.

Last season was, by Shesterkin’s standards, a bit of a rollercoaster. His .913 save percentage was the lowest of his NHL career and he had a 2.58 GAA. Shesterkin admitted recently he was so discouraged by his first-half play that he believed backup Jonathan Quick was more deserving of the All-Star Game selection he received.

But, again, Shesterkin’s standards are off the charts. He’s not your average goalie. And he will always judge himself and be judged by his outstanding Vezina Trophy-winning season in 2021-22, when he was 36-13-4 with a 2.07 GAA and .935 save percentage.

“He can spin a gem at any moment and shut you out and make it look easy,” Schneider said. “I think those kind of guys are rare and don’t come along very often. … I think his numbers are amazing, and he passes the eye test, too.”

At 28, Shesterkin should be at the height of his powers for years to come. So, it’s perfect timing for him that he can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. It’s believed his camp wants 14 percent of the salary cap to start, which would be nearly $13 million annually.

Price has the largest AAV for a goalie in League history at $10.5 million. Sergei Bobrovksy, a two-time Vezina winner and recent Stanley Cup champion, averages $10 million per season.

Shesterkin will likely blow past those contracts. Any nickel the Rangers can save with Shesterkin is key because they will be up against the salary cap once the goalie is signed and contracts are worked out with Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller, each of whom is an RFA with arbitration rights next summer.

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