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Examining the Chances Igor Shesterkin Retains the Vezina Trophy

By Conor Power |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers takes the ice prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers takes the ice prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers takes the ice prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers takes the ice prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Call it how it is. Igor Shesterkin was a man possessed last year. With the Russian shot-stopper posting a 36-13-4 record, six shutouts, a .935 save percentage, and 2.07 goals against average, the great wall of New York was built in the crease at Madison Square Garden. Shesterkin captured the Vezina, made the first all-star team, and came 3rd in voting for the League MVP.

Igor was a monster and was a big part of the reason why the Rangers were challenging for the Division title until the latter stages of the season. His strong performances against Pittsburgh, Carolina, and Tampa Bay helped the Rangers go deep last year. With the unholy numbers Shesterkin put up, there seems to be one question on the mind of Rangers fans around the world. Can he do it again?

No netminder has retained the Vezina since 2007-2008 when some guy named Martin Brodeur did it. Can Igor do something that has only been done once in the salary cap era and keep his crown as the best goalie in the NHL? Well, that is a very difficult prediction. Shesterkin has every chance of doing it, but he’s going to have to play the way he did last year, and he was utterly unstoppable.

It is safe to assume that Shesterkin will take a small step backwards from being a sustainable .930 save percentage netminder, but he should still be in the conversation. If Shesterkin can keep himself above a .925 save percentage and keep stealing games for the Rangers, he’ll certainly be in the conversation again. It’s very difficult to get into that conversation to win the Vezina, but after you have done it, it gets a lot easier to do.

Right now, Shesterkin could win the Vezina again, but only he has the ability to win the trophy again. I can sit here and make a case, but if he stinks up the joint, he’s not going to have a case to be made. Igor proved last year he is one of the best netminders in the NHL. If he wants to cement himself at the top of the tree among netminders, he needs to perform for the Rangers this year.

Question for Blue Line Station readers: Will Shesterkin win the Vezina again?

Next. Would Patrick Kane put the Rangers over the top?. dark

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