Sportsnet predicts New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin to win Calder Trophy
When it comes to this season’s NHL rookie of the year award, two New York Rangers lead with the oddsmakers. Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafreniere are the favorites to win the Calder Trophy this season.
New York Rangers prospects both one and two with oddsmakers
The NHL Hockey Operations Guide clearly lays out what the requirements are to win Rookie of the Year.
To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.
According to those rules, 24 year-old Igor Shesterkin fits the bill (he turns 25 soon). Remember, he only played in 12 games last season. That means when the puck drops on 2021, he is in the running for the Calder Trophy along with fellow teammate, Alexis Lafreniere.
Igor Shesterkin projected to win Calder Trophy
Sportsnet’s Luke Fox is predicted that Igor Shesterkin will be the first goalie in 12 years to win the award since Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2009.
New York Rangers phenom Igor Shesterkin — a.k.a. the reason Henrik Lundqvist was bought out — ends that streak with a stellar campaign and further establishes himself as the heir to the King’s throne. Shesterkin, 24, will build upon his 10-2, .932 performance toward the end of 2019-20 and earn more votes than Calder finalists Alexis Lafreniere (also Rangers) and Kirill Kaprizov (Wild).
Sportsnet
The Czar of NY has as good a shot as anyone
The New York Rangers bought out Henrik Lundqvist to make way for Igor Shesterkin. Coming in mid-season, the highly touted prospect lived up to the hype with a 10-2 record in 12 games. The 24 year-old did that with an impressive .932 SV% and 2.32 GAA. Now, he is coming in as the number one, a spot he earned thanks to those stellar numbers.
Last season, Shesterkin basically helped propel the Rangers into playoff contention with stellar net-minding. He did so in impressive fashion earning a 7 game winning streak that included victories against Toronto, Winnipeg, and Carolina. He also faced over 40 shots in 5 of his 12 starts, winning every single contest.
Buckle up Rangers fans, because this is going to be fun to watch Shesterkin and Lafreniere battle it out for the same trophy while playing for the same team.
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