The New York Rangers are extremely lucky to have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Igor Shesterkin.
Going into his sixth NHL season, Shesterkin, 28 has already done a lot for the Blueshirts. He has taken them to the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the past three seasons, won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in the 2021-22 season, has stolen a ton of games, and has allowed the team to keep being Stanley Cup contenders.
This season will be a different one for Shesterkin. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this year and is already being talked about ending up being the highest-paid goaltender in the league.
With all of that in mind, Shesterkin should go into this season extra motivated for several reasons. For starters, there is the aforementioned big-time looming payday.
Since joining the league. Shesterkin has been one of the league’s best goaltenders. He is currently 135-59-0-17 with a 2.43 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and 15 shutouts in 213 regular season games.
He has also been outstanding in the postseason. Shesterkin is currently 23-20 with a 2.41 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage in 44 career playoff games.
If Shesterkin wants to become the top biller amongst NHL goaltenders, he needs to be consistent all season long. In the last two years, Shesterkin has struggled in the first half of the season and then played extremely well in the second half.
This season, he needs to play like he did in the 2021-22 season when he won the Vezina. That season, he was 36-13-0-4 with a 2.07 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage, and six shutouts.
Secondly, Shesterkin should be motivated to get his team over the playoff hump. As mentioned above, the Rangers have gone to the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the past three seasons, only to come up two wins short of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final each time.
Shesterkin has already shown that he is an outstanding playoff goaltender. Do not be surprised to see him raise his game a level further in this season’s playoffs assuming the Rangers get there.
Lastly, he should be motivated because he is an elite goaltender. He works his tail off every season, he steals a lot of games for his hockey club, and he has done everything in his power to carry the Rangers as far as he can.
Shesterkin needs to go out this season and show team’s management again just how much he means to them, how much he does for them, and how he could continue to do great things for them for years to come.
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