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5 Things That Make 2022 Stickout for the New York Rangers

By Conor Power

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores a third period goal against Pyotr Kochetkov #52 of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores a third period goal against Pyotr Kochetkov #52 of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 21: Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers reacts after being awarded the Vezina Trophy for outstanding goaltender during the 2022 NHL Awards at Armature Works on June 21, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Igor’s emergence

Technically, this started in 2021. However, the Rangers’ star netminder would cement himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in hockey. Shesterkin’s 2021-22 season is the best season any Rangers netminder has ever had it is the best season in terms of Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) ever recorded. Shesterkin was superhuman for the Rangers and his performances would be rewarded with the Vezina trophy.

In the Big Apple, we’ve been lucky to see some fantastic goaltenders coming into New York and starting to call Madison Square Garden home. Shesterkin seems to be the next chapter in the illustrious history of the New York Rangers goaltending. With the Rangers’ Russian capturing the Vezina trophy and the hearts of the Rangers fanbase, it is safe to say that this was a good season for the Rangers’ young Russian netminder.

Igor ended the 2021-22 season with a ridiculous 2.07 goals against average and a .935 save percentage as he walked to the Vezina Trophy as the cream of the crop among the netminders in the NHL. That is not the ridiculous part. Shesterkin had possibly the best Goals Save Above Expected (GSAx) ever recorded with his strong performance during the 2021-22 season.

He became the second Ranger on the current roster to win a major award after Adam Fox won the Norris trophy a few seasons ago. Igor’s rise to stardom is going to live long in the memory of the hockey world and the New York fanbase. He’s proven himself as one of the best netminders in hockey, and the 2022 calendar year will mark the first time he climbed to the top of the netminding world.

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