Igor Shesterkin believes ‘it should’ve been’ other Rangers goalie in 2024 NHL All-Star Game

Igor Shesterkin’s 2023-24 season will be most remembered for his brilliant play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But it was a rollercoaster ride for the New York Rangers goalie, including an All-Star Game appearance he believes was unwarranted.

Shesterkin recently shared those trials and tribulations in an hour-long podcast with Cherkas Atlant, a Russian YouTube channel which features interviews with NHL and KHL stars.

The wide-ranging conversation explored Shesterkin’s thoughts about his uneven season and uncovered some juicy takes on fellow NHL players.

One of the most intriguing translated quotes from the interview came when Shesterkin was asked about his selection to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game last season.

“I was actually so skeptical about this because I understood that I don’t deserve to be there … Well, in my understanding, it should’ve been [Jonathan] Quick,” Shesterkin said, referring the Rangers No. 2 goalie. “It was psychologically hard for me that I didn’t deserve it and so on, the percentage of saved shots when I was an All-Star was 89 percent.”

Shesterkin isn’t just being humble – he makes a valid point. His play heading into the All-Star Game in February was uncharacteristically rough.

January was the toughest month of Shesterkin’s season. He was 4-5-1, with a 3.25 goals-against average and .864 save percentage. Overall his save percentage was under .900 despite New York’s success in the first four months of the season.

By contrast, Quick had a terrific first half of the season.

The 38-year-old was a remarkable 9-0-1 in his first 10 starts of the season, including a sterling a 32-save shutout against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 22.

Shesterkin didn’t stay down for long, however. And, perhaps, the All-Star Game appearance benefitted him. Shesterkin relaxed, enjoyed time with family and friends, and helped lead Team Matthews to the All-Star Game win.

He came out of the All-Star break firing on all cylinders, following some extra side work work with New York’s goalie guru Benoit Allaire. He was a perfect 7-0-0 with a 1.72 GAA and an eye-popping .953 save percentage as the Rangers reeled off 10 straight wins, tying a franchise record, with he and Quick handling the goaltending duties.

Shesterkin finished the season tied for third in wins (36) and tied for eighth among NHL goalies to play at least 30 games with a .913 save percentage. He starred in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, reeling off seven straight wins to begin the tournament and carrying an outplayed Rangers team to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final before final being eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Shesterkin’s been open in previous years about being disappointed with his play when going through a stretch of underwhelming performances.

“I’m a little bit frustrated,” Shesterkin said in April of 2022 after a month of goaltending below the .900 save percentage mark . “You really want to keep winning but I’ll keep working on my game.”

He’s also stressed getting out of his own head and focusing less on game-to-game results.

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Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin says he tries to ‘work on’ his emotions

Shesterkin’s been known to throw a blocker or two when an opposing player lingers in his crease for too long, just ask Sidney Crosby.

Then there’s this example from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final when Panthers winger Eetu Luostarinen tried to jam in a covered puck and fell on top of Shesterkin.

Always a stalwart defender of his crease, Shesterkin doesn’t take getting pushed around lightly.

Emotion, for better or for worse, is a big part of the 28-year-old’s game.

“I try to work on it, but it doesn’t always work out … Maybe I wouldn’t be Igor if I didn’t do that,” the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner said.

Tensions flared again for Shesterkin in Game 3 of the conference final, when famous loudmouth Matthew Tkachuk tried to get into his head after the Rangers goalie made a save.

“I’m lucky because I don’t speak English,” Shesterkin said after the game , but elaborated further in the recent interview.

“I have only Russian words which fly out, that is, in English I can certainly say a couple but when I’m emotional and want to say something really rude about him.”

Shesterkin isn’t fazed by Tkachuk’s mind games, and sees it as an integral part of what makes him an effective hockey player.

“Well, in general, his style of play is this … to come and get under the skin of the goalkeeper players … With all this, he is an excellent hockey player,” Shesterkin explained.

It’s not just his current adversaries that get on his nerves, even a current teammate was able to get a rise out of Shesterkin in the past.

“When we played two years or three years ago against Carolina in the second round (2022), it was the same with Vincent Trocheck … he was the same, also under the skin, and was constantly saying something,” Shesterkin said. “But I honestly didn’t like playing against him, and he came to our team.”

Trocheck didn’t just talk the talk, but also walked the walk in that series.

He put three goals past Shesterkin, despite the Rangers netminder boasting an impressive .949 save percentage and carrying the Rangers to a Game 7 victory.

Shesterkin may not have liked having Trocheck as an opponent, but now seems grateful that they can direct their jabs at a shared opponent rather than each other.

This is a big offseason for Shesterkin, who’s in the final year of his contract and due a massive raise on his next deal. If he doesn’t sign an extension, Shesterkin can become an unrestricted free agent at the of the 2024-25 season.

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