New York Rangers extend goalie Igor Shesterkin with four year deal
The New York Rangers have extended goaltender Igor Shesterkin to a new four year deal. The 25 year-old will man the cage at Madison Square Garden for the foreseeable future.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team. Reports indicate the deal is worth $5.65 million AAV.
Rangers sign Igor Shesterkin
Per the team’s press release:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent goaltender Igor Shesterkin on a four-year contract.
Shesterkin, 25, appeared in 35 games with the Rangers this past season, posting a 16-14-3 record, along with a 2.62 GAA, a .916 SV%, and 2 SO. The 6-2, 182-pounder has appeared in 47 career NHL games over parts of two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21), both with the Rangers, posting a 26-16-3 record, along with a 2.59 GAA, a .921 SV%, and 2 SO. Shesterkin also appeared in one game during the 2020 postseason.
The Moscow, Russia native was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 118th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Shesterkin enters the season as the Blueshirts #1 goalie
This past season, Igor Shesterkin made 35 appearances winning 16 of those games. He was tied for 7th in the NHL in SV% (.916), and 11th in GAA (2.62) for all goalies having played at least 25 games. When you use that same minimum games played among rookies, Shesterkin was the top backstop in SV% and ranked second in GAA to only Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger (2.36).
Impressive. Especially when you consider that on March 5th he tore his groin and missed several weeks. As he was recovering from his injury, questions about his durability started to find its way into the NY papers. Larry Brooks brought up Shesterkin getting hurt in an RTP exhibition match which caused him to miss Games 1 and 2 against the Hurricanes last season. He returned for Game 3, but the Rangers were swept in the Qualifying Round.
Naturally, when he was hurt on a non contact play against the Devils red flags went up. Shesterkin responded by going on a different kind of tear upon his return. From March 24th to April 27th, Igor went 9-4-2 and had the Rangers knocking on the door of a playoff spot. He finished with a 10-7-2 record after recovering from his groin injury. Unfortunately, the Rangers missed the playoffs.
He enters this season as the clear starter for the Blueshirts.
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