The New York Rangers are not expected to make too much noise in 2026-27, but there is a chance to still gain some ground on getting back on the road toward championship form. The youngsters will be the focus, and with some new additions as well, head coach Mike Sullivan has a little more to play with than in years past.
When thinking of the last couple of winners of the MVP award, as voted by the media, it has been Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin over the last six seasons. For the 2026-27 season, Panarin might be gone, but there is one name there that will very likely be this team's most valuable player.
Who could it be, and why?
Igor Shesterkin remains the team's most important player
It all begins and ends with the goaltender. And, with this much uncertainty due to the new pieces on both the offensive and defensive side, the goalie is going to have to be concrete. Hence, Shesterkin will very likely be the 2026-27 team MVP, and it won't even be close.
Newcomer (Pavel Dorofeyev could break the unforeseen thought of a 50-goal season), and it might be uprooted by the comeback that No. 31 has in net. Shesterkin had one of the worst seasons of his career last season, and that stung a lot.
Expect him to go all-in, despite the inexperience around him. President and General Manager Chris Drury is paying him as the NHL's most expensive goaltender of all time at $11.5 million per season, and the recent trade for Joonas Korpisalo adds a little pressure for him to get back to normalcy. The Rangers cannot afford to finally turn things around in every other area, but then get the rug pulled from underneath them in their sturdiest area of the team.
What does Shesterkin have to do to be team MVP?
A simple return to form. Outside of the statistics, Shesterkin has to re-establish that tenacity he brings to the ice. Much like Henrik Lundqvist before him, that fiery passion is what makes him a unique and successful goaltender. That was sorely lacking last season, and Rangers fans should not blame him.
For 2026-27, a return to the Vezina conversation is not an expectation, but being within earshot is. The added defense of Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson should change things up and bring more stability to the blue line. Plus, Braden Schneider is on a one-year tryout for his future in New York. There is also the potential for 2026 first rounder Alberts Smits to make an impact should he break camp with the team. Not to mention that a healthy Fox will be an important presence to the defense along with his running mate Vladislav Gavrikov.
Shesterkin should have everything he needs to have a great year. And, should he follow through on doing so, it should be a guaranteed win for the team MVP. He remains one of the game's top goaltenders in the clutch, as evidence by his playoff success, and the Rangers are counting on him to come through in a big way this season.
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