The New York Rangers had a season full of drama, uncertainity and overreaction. Those three things can be said about the one player that was supposed to be the most valuable player of the group, goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
The 2024-25 campaign was a bad one, and there is no looking back. But, if you were to give a grade to the netminder that became the highest paid in the history of this great game, what would it be?
Expectations
Fresh off of an Eastern Conference Final appearence, the vibe was that the Rangers were going to run it back. There was no denying that the feeling of this team was that the Stanley Cup was coming back to New York very soon.
Shesterkin was a powerhouse in 2023-24, with a 36-17-2 record, 2.58 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. What a year between the pipes, just to get snuffed out by the eventual Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers.
Performance
The 2024-25 season was abysmal. He held a record of 27-29-5, with six shutouts, which is a tie for a career-high. Shesterkin also had a save percentage of .905, the lowest of his career, and a goals against average of 2.86, which is consequently the highest of his career. Plenty of teams in the NHL that would kill to have a goalie with that as their career bests.
There was not much of an enjoyable moment, and that dream of seeing that big shiny trophy made of silver and nickel parading down 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue has floated away to a far-off place in the brain.
Shesterkin was a part of that dream fading, with arguably the worst season of his career. Crazy to think that he is such an incredible goaltender that his worst season would grade him at a B-. This is solely becuase of how terrible this team was, he stood out as a positive more then a negative.
What comes next for him?
The 2025-26 season is going to be a make-or-break season for this organization. It is the Centenial season, marking the 100th in Rangers history, and the stakes have not been higher to try and get this team back on track.
Shesterkin will be heavily relied on, as the rest of this organization is in such limbo. Leadership, both on the ice and in the front office is under constant scrutiny, and the only way to fix it is with solid play. A strong goaltender will be crucial.
The expectation is for a return to Vezina Trophy candidate form for the $11.5 million AAV goalie. You have to expect him to finally push all of that drama out of the way and focus on being the Rangers best hope at being champs.