New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin’s nine goals allowed in two games was alarming, but there is no need to overreact to the Russian goalie’s first North American outing.
“He’s had a lot of success with where he’s been at. He’s played at high levels, he’s won.” This quote from New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton prior to the Traverse City is the main reason why we do not have to be worried about Shesterkin allowing nine goals in two games.
In the Blueshirts initial 6-2 loss to the Blue Jackets, it’s plausible to say that four or five of those six goals were not even Shesterkin’s fault. The Rangers defense was awful for the last 45 minutes of regulation giving up an odd man rush seemingly every five minutes.
Luckily for the 23-year-old net-minder, Kaapo Kakko’s long awaited debut in Shesterkins’s second start gave the Rangers skaters a much needed boost in their third game. Shesterkin, although not perfect, was much better, surrendering three goals on 22 shots to the Minnesota Wild prospects.
To be honest, two games is too small a sample size for Rangers fans to start calling Igor a bust.
Don’t forget that these were Shesterkin’s first games in North America. It’s known that foreign players, especially goalies, take time to adjust to the smaller rink and faster pace of play in the NHL.
Take Evgeni Nabokov for instance, one of the best Russian goalies in NHL history. Nabokov played almost 700 NHL games, second all-time among Russian goalies. His 2.44 lifetime goals against average is the best of all Russian goalies. Did you know that he struggled so much when he first arrived in North America that he wanted to return to Europe?
We need to let Shesterkin settle in slowly, and that starts by letting him progress in the AHL this season. Rangers fans must not be oblivious to the fact that his time to take the reins on Broadway is not here yet.
Shesterkin has a good sense of humor. He opted to do his interview in English today and was asked about Henrik Lundqvist.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 5, 2019
"He is King," was his immediate response.
Asked if they've spoken, he confirmed but wouldn't divulge details.
"It’s a secret. I’m not telling you."#NYR
“He is king.”
If this quote by Shesterkin himself isn’t enough to confirm that he is the future and not the present, what is?
See, no need to panic; only a need to be patient and let time take its course.