Rangers announce Team Awards as Igor Shesterkin named MVP
On Friday, the New York Rangers announced that goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been named the Team MVP. Adam Fox won the award last season.
Shesterkin, 26, was voted the winner by members of the New York Rangers media and is the first goalie to be bestowed the honor since Henrik Lundqvist won it in 2017-18.
This season, the likely winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie posted a 36-13-4 record to lead the Rangers to the playoffs and home-ice advantage in round one. His .935 SV% and 2.07 GAA lead the league.
Shesterkin named Team MVP, Vezina leader
The New York Rangers last Vezina Trophy winner was legendary franchise goalie Henrik Lundqvist in 2012. Shockingly, that was the only time he won the title as NHL’s best goalie despite finishing in the top five another five times in his 15 year career.
That season, The King posted a 39-18-5 record with a jaw-dropping 1.97 GAA and a stellar .930 SV% (the highest of his 15 year career).
Per Vegas Insider, Shesterkin is the clear cut favorite at -4000. His competition is a distant second and third in Carolina’s Frederik Andersen at +3300 and Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom at +3300.
Trouba and Goodrow co-recipients of Players’ Player Award
The Players’ Player Award his a coveted honor and this season the team recognized two worthy candidates that “best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.” This is also the first time since the 2008-09 season where two players shared the award (Chris Drury and Blair Betts).
Goodrow, 29, is in his first season with the team after the Rangers acquired his rights from the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning and then signed him to a six-year deal. He has recorded 13 goals, 20 assists, and 33 points this year, all of which are career highs.
Trouba, 28, has been an absolute beast in his third year with the team. With a career high 11 goals, 28 assists, and 39 points, he’s been a steady presence on the blue-line. He also sacrifices his body as he’s tops on the team with 172 blocked shots. Physically, he’s been intimidating registering 207 hits, most of which are of the highlight-reel type.
Ryan Lindgren won the Players’ Player award last season.
Ryan Strome gets The John Halligan Good Guy Award
The Rangers also announced that Ryan Strome won the The John Halligan Good Guy Award, which is awarded to the player by the media for their accessibility and cooperation
This has been another solid year for Strome, who has been a great acquisition since coming over from Edmonton for Ryan Spooner during the 2018-19 season.
Strome, 28, set a career high in goals with 21, has 32 assists, and 53 points on the year. The pending UFA has had some contract discussions with the team but there’s been no recent update with regards to any progress.
Strome has also been Artemi Panarin’s favorite center to date and there’s mutual interest in keeping the relationship going.
Defenseman Brendan Smith won the award last season. He is now a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
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