Igor Shesterkin has big expectations for 2025-26 Rangers: ‘Stanley Cup’
No one can accuse New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin of not thinking as big as his record-setting contract.
The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner is coming off his worst NHL season; he went 27-29-5 with a 2.86 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and five shutouts – although a lot of his struggles had to do with the poor play in front of him on many nights. But as he begins the first season of the eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 million average annual value, the most ever for an NHL goalie) he signed last December, Shesterkin has his eyes on hockey’s biggest prize.
When asked at training camp Friday what his expectations are for this season, No. 31 spoke just two words: “Stanley Cup.”
He was smiling as he said it, but then added, “If you are a professional athlete, you need to reach the best always, and that should be your goal.”
Admittedly, winning it all figures to be a major challenge for a team that went from winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 to missing the playoffs last season. To return to the playoffs, let alone win the Cup for the first time since 1994, the Rangers will need the 2022 version of Shesterkin as well as major contributions from the players in front of him.
Related: Rangers finding comfortable fit for Mika Zibanejad with J.T. Miller
That includes newcomers such as veteran defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and holdovers such as forward Mika Zibanejad, who will start the preseason on right wing on a line centered by J.T. Miller.
“Of course we are focused on a new start,” said Shesterkin, unquestionably the most important player on the team. “We’ve forgot last season. We just need to turn this page and be ready for the next preseason games and for opening night.”
Igor Shesterkin’s expectations for Rangers: ‘Stanley Cup’
One player Shesterkin is glad to have on his side this season is Gavrikov, a fellow Russian who signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Rangers on July 1. Gavrikov became an unrestricted free agent after perhaps the best season of his NHL career, when he helped to make the Los Angeles Kings one of the NHL’s hardest teams to score against.
“I know him a lot. He’s a great person, an amazing defenseman,” Shesterkin said of the 29-year-old, who’s likely to play the left side with Adam Fox on the Rangers’ top defense pair — as they did in each of the first two days of camp. “We are so happy to have him now.”
When asked what Gavrikov brings to the table, Shesterkin was enthusiastic.
“He’s a pretty good two-way defenseman,” the goaltender said. “He plays pretty well in front of (the) net, and he can join the rush. … He’s very smart and knows where he needs to be.”
Shesterkin also said he’s been impressed by new coach Mike Sullivan, who took over after Peter Laviolette was fired following last season’s disappointing finish.
“He is a pretty good coach,” he said of the two-time Cup-winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “He knows what he wants, so he puts hard work for everyone. I’m enjoying it.”
Sullivan spoke earlier this week about making a trip to Sweden this summer to meet with Zibanejad, and Shesterkin jokingly noted that the new coach didn’t come to see him for a similar visit.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t come to Russia like for Mika,” he said with a smile. “But I’m a really good cooker, so if someone wants barbeque.”
Shesterkin had the assembled media laughing for much of Friday’s post-practice session, but the chuckles really came out when he was asked for his feelings about the shootout – did he like it or hate it?
The answer: neither. He wants to be the shooter, not the target.
“I wish to score sometimes, but they don’t let me do that,” said Shesterkin, who’s eager to join the list of NHL goaltenders who’ve been credited with scoring a goal. “Maybe they need to change the rules. My stickhandling’s not very good, but I promise I can work hard.”
