The loss of New York Rangers goaltender Igor Sheskterkin could be a watershed moment that alters the team’s plans moving forward.
After all, the Blueshirts could have lost their best player for an extended period. Needless to say, that’s no bueno for a club trying to hang on to the Eastern Conference playoff race.
While the hope is that the injury is not devastating, it could leave the Rangers devoid of their Vezina-caliber netminder for an extended period. If the worst proves to be the case, the New York Rangers could become sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
The rationale here is straightforward. Shesterkin’s elite goaltending this season has kept the club in the playoff picture. Without him, it’s unclear where veteran goalie Jonathan Quick can carry the club all the way to the postseason.
Quick did a good job coming in relief on Monday night against the Utah Mammoth. But there’s only so much Quick can do to save the Rangers’ season. And that’s a prospect GM Chris Drury will have to consider.
Of course, it’s far too soon for any shotgun moves. The club needs to determine a clear prognosis and timeline for Shesterkin. In the best of cases, he’ll need rest for a couple of weeks. In the worst case, Shesterkin could be out for an extended period.
And that nightmare scenario could significantly alter the Rangers’ plans moving forward. If anything, it may trigger a cascading effect in which the Blueshirts become sellers at the trade deadline.
The biggest piece Drury could move out impending UFA defenseman Carson Soucy. Plenty of clubs are looking for blueliners. So, Soucy could be an enticing piece. But the biggest fish of all could be Artemi Panarin.
While there hasn’t been any real inkling that the Rangers could move the 34-year-old star, Shesterkin’s injury may accelerate that move. Panarin has said he isn’t keen on giving hometown discounts or taking a short-term deal. The Blueshirts, meanwhile, have been somewhat cautious about ponying up the cash.
With the Rangers’ season potentially hanging in the balance, could this be the time to move Panarin? Most importantly, could the return on such a trade set up the Rangers for long-term success? Those are questions that will hinge on the injury timeline for Igor Shesterkin.
Why Rangers must exercise caution
Even if the Rangers’ season begins to circle the drain, there’s an urgent need to exercise caution. Selling off pieces at this point may seem tempting, but the fact is that a measured, long-term approach is warranted.
On Monday, Rangers owner James Dolan preached patience during a rare interview. As such, this situation is precisely a perfect opportunity to be patient. Drury can’t afford to aggressively punt on the season. Conversely, adding pieces to compensate for Shesterkin’s loss is something else the club must be wary of.
That’s why the path forward is caution. Opposing GMs know the Rangers are in a pickle. So, they won’t back down on their asking prices given the team’s injury situation.
It may be hard to accept a relative amount of inaction. But there are worse things than standing by. Making a move for the sake of making one is hardly the best business practice.