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Igor Shesterkin

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Olegovich and the family name is Shesterkin.

Igor Shesterkin
Shesterkin with New York Rangers in April 2024
Born (1995-12-30) 30 December 1995 (age 28)
Moscow, Russia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 New York Rangers
Spartak Moscow
SKA Saint Petersburg
National team  Russia
NHL draft 118th overall, 2014
New York Rangers
Playing career 2014–present

Igor Olegovich Shestyorkin (Russian: Игорь Олегович Шестёркин, commonly spelled as Shesterkin; born 30 December 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 118th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In his first 82-game season in 2021–22, Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.

Playing career

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KHL

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Shesterkin played as a youth with Krylya Sovetov Moscow before he was selected by Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League, 43rd overall in the 2012 KHL Draft, as a 16-year old. He played his first season within Spartak, at the MHL level, featuring for MHK Spartak in the 2012–13 season.

Shesterkin with Spartak Moscow in 2014

Shesterkin made his professional and KHL debut midway through the following 2013–14 season, recalled from MHK to close out the final 8 minutes for Spartak in relief of Alexei Ivanov in a 5–3 defeat to HC Ugra on 20 January 2014.[1] He was given his first start three days later, allowing two goals in a 3–1 loss to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on 23 January.[2] In his eighth appearance, Shesterkin collected his first win, making 33 saves in a 3–0 shutout victory over HC Slovan Bratislava on 2 March.[3] Returning the MHL, Shesterkin registered a 12–7 record in 19 playoff games, along with a 1.75 goals against averange and a .937 save percentage, and four shutouts to help MHK Spartak win the MHL Championship.

While out of contract from Spartak and showing strong potential, Shesterkin signed a contract with perennial powerhouse SKA Saint Petersburg on 6 June 2014.[4] As the fifth-ranked goaltender entering the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Shesterkin was selected in the fourth round, 118th overall, by the New York Rangers on 28 June.[5]

NHL

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2019–2021: North American debut

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On 3 May 2019, Shesterkin signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.[6] Shesterkin played in his first NHL preseason game on 21 September, stopping 36 of 40 shots in a 4–1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.[7] He was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' minor league affiliate team with the American Hockey League. Shesterkin made his AHL debut during Hartford's 2019–20 season opener on 5 October,[8] during which he made 26 saves in a 5–3 win against the Charlotte Checkers.[8][9] On 6 January 2020, the Rangers recalled Shesterkin after having success for the Wolf Pack with whom he posted a 15–4–3 record and was named to the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.[10][11] In his NHL debut with the Rangers on 7 January, Shesterkin made 29 saves in a 5–3 win against the Colorado Avalanche.[12] Two days later, Shesterkin became the sixth Rangers' goaltender to win his first two games with the team.[13] On 23 February 2020, Shesterkin and teammate Pavel Buchnevich were involved in a car crash. Shesterkin suffered a rib fracture following the incident.[14]

On 13 April 2021, Shesterkin earned his first shutout of his NHL career in a 3–0 win against the New Jersey Devils.[15] Subsequently, Shesterkin recorded his second career shutout in the next game against the Devils in a 4–0 contest on 15 April.[16] He became the second Rangers rookie with back-to-back shutouts,[17] and the first Ranger with back-to-back shutouts since Antti Raanta in December 2016.[18] He also became the third Ranger in franchise history with shutouts versus the same opponent in consecutive games.[19]

2021–22: Breakout and Eastern Conference Final run

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On 9 August 2021, Shesterkin signed a four-year, $22.67 million contract extension with the Rangers.[20] On 18 October, Shesterkin made 40 out of 41 saves during a 2–1 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was his seventh win with 40-plus saves since his NHL debut in January 2020; the most among all goaltenders during that time span.[21] On 20 February 2022, after defeating the Ottawa Senators 2–1, Shesterkin became the 14th NHL goaltender with at least 50 wins in 79 starts.[22] He concluded the 2021–22 regular season with a 36–13–4 record, leading the league in both save percentage and goals against average.[23] Shesterkin was widely hailed as having had one of the finest showings for a goaltender in the history of the NHL. This attracted considerable speculation as to whether he should be a contender for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player, seldom awarded to netminders.[24] On 10 May, he was named as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's best goaltender.[23] Two days later he was named as a Hart Trophy finalist, the first goaltender so honoured in five years.[25] He ultimately won the Vezina and finished third in Hart voting.[26][27]

The Rangers finished second in the Metropolitan Division, and in the opening round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs faced the Pittsburgh Penguins, whose starting goaltender Tristan Jarry was sidelined by injury.[28] In Game 1, Shesterkin's NHL playoff debut on 3 May, he made 79 saves in the 4–3 triple overtime loss, setting the all-time team record for saves in a playoff game, with the second most saves in a playoff game league-wide.[29] Following a Rangers win in Game 2, the Rangers lost Games 3 and 4 by wide margins, with Shesterkin replaced by Alexandar Georgiev in the second period of each game.[30] The Rangers subsequently rallied to win the next three games and clinch the series.[31][32] In the next series against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Rangers rallied back from a 2–0 series deficit to win again in seven games. Shesterkin was again generally considered the difference-maker for his team, backstopping them to key wins when outshot.[33][34][35] Shesterkin became the first goaltender in NHL history to have two assists in a playoff game in which his team faced elimination, and the fifth goaltender with two assists in a single playoff game, as well as the first Rangers goaltender with at least two assists in any game since Mike Richter in 1992.[36]

Shesterkin during warmups in November 2022.

The Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2015, facing the two-time consecutive and defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The contest with the Lightning was widely framed as a competition between Shesterkin and Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, the previous year's Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP.[37][38] Vasilevsky was considered by many, including Shesterkin himself, to be the best goaltender in the world.[39] The Rangers ultimately lost to the Lightning in six games, while Shesterkin recorded a .929 save percentage over the course of the playoffs.[40] Shesterkin was named a First Team All-Star after the end of the playoffs.[41]

2022–23 All-Star season

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Shesterkin was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2023, which made him the seventh goaltender in Rangers history to be an all-star (Chuck Rayner, Gump Worsley, Eddie Giacomin, Gilles Villemure, Mike Richter, and Henrik Lundqvist).[42]

In the 2023 playoffs, the Rangers lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven games despite initially having a 2–0 series lead. However, Shesterkin was a bright spot as he posted a .931 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average.[43]

2023–24 Second All-Star Season

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On 12 October 2023, by winning the 2023–24 season opener against the Buffalo Sabres, Shesterkin became the fastest Rangers goaltender to reach 100 wins, doing so in only 159 outings.[44] During a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes, Shesterkin suffered a "minor soreness" injury and missed a few games as a precaution, but returned against the New Jersey Devils.[45] Earning an All-Star nod for the second consecutive season, Shesterkin became the sixth Rangers goaltender in franchise history to accomplish this milestone. He joins Henrik Lundqvist, Gilles Villemure, Eddie Giacomin, Gump Worsley, and Chuck Rayner.[46]

International play

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Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing
 Olympic Athletes from Russia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Pyeongchang
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Russia
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Germany/France
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2015 Canada

Shesterkin was a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the 2018 Winter Olympics. While capturing the gold medal, he did not see any action throughout the tournament as the nation's third goaltender.

Shesterkin represented Russia and was one of top goaltenders at the following 2018 World Championships in Denmark. He finished with two victories – both shutouts – and a 1.46 goals against average and a .942 save percentage, both of which were the third-best at the event.[47]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2012–13 MHK Spartak MHL 15 9 1 4 886 31 2 2.10 .920 9 6 3 529 14 3 1.59 .948
2013–14 MHK Spartak MHL 23 14 5 4 1,399 33 5 1.42 .947 19 12 7 1,134 33 4 1.75 .937
2013–14 Spartak Moscow KHL 9 1 5 2 428 20 1 2.80 .903 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 SKA-1946 MHL 3 2 0 1 159 6 0 2.26 .934 13 7 6 778 32 1 2.47 .910
2014–15 SKA-Karelia VHL 8 3 3 2 488 14 1 1.72 .943 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 6 3 0 3 231 9 0 2.33 .917 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 SKA-Neva VHL 25 16 6 3 1,513 30 6 1.19 .954 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 7 5 2 0 419 18 1 2.58 .912 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 SKA-1946 MHL 2 1 1 0 119 3 0 1.51 .946 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 39 27 4 6 2,191 60 8 1.64 .937 5 4 1 228 7 0 1.84 .940
2017–18 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 28 20 4 4 1,593 45 7 1.70 .933 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 1.000
2018–19 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 28 24 4 0 1,681 31 10 1.11 .953 10 4 5 522 17 0 1.95 .904
2019–20 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 25 17 4 3 1,455 46 3 1.90 .934 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 New York Rangers NHL 12 10 2 0 692 29 0 2.52 .932 1 0 1 58 3 0 3.10 .900
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 35 16 14 3 1,900 83 2 2.62 .916 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 New York Rangers NHL 53 36 13 4 3,071 106 6 2.07 .935 20 10 9 1,182 51 0 2.59 .929
2022–23 New York Rangers NHL 58 37 13 8 3,489 144 3 2.48 .916 7 3 4 428 14 0 1.96 .931
2023–24 New York Rangers NHL 55 36 17 2 3,277 141 4 2.58 .912 16 10 6 1,000 39 0 2.34 .926
KHL totals 117 80 19 15 6,543 183 27 1.68 .935 16 8 6 751 24 0 1.91 .919
NHL totals 213 135 59 17 12,428 503 15 2.43 .921 44 23 20 2,668 107 0 2.41 .928

International

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Year Team Event Result GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2012 Russia IH18 5th 1 — — — — — — 5.00 .821
2013 Russia WJC18 4th 6 4 2 0 345 13 0 2.26 .937
2015 Russia WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 3 2 0 242 8 1 1.98 .938
2016 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) — — — — — — — — —
2017 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) — — — — — — — — —
2018 OAR OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) — — — — — — — — —
2018 Russia WC 6th 4 2 0 1 205 5 2 1.46 .942
Senior totals 4 2 0 1 205 5 2 1.46 .942

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
KHL
All-Star Game 2017, 2018
First All-Star Team 2017
Gagarin Cup champion 2017
AHL
All-Star Game 2020
NHL
Vezina Trophy 2022 [26]
First All-Star Team 2022 [41]
All-Star Game 2023, 2024

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ugra 5, Spartak 3 Game Summary". Kontinental Hockey League (in Russian). 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Lokomotiv 3 - Spartak 1". Kontinental Hockey League (in Russian). 23 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. ^ ""Спартак" наконец прервал серию поражений". Kontinental Hockey League (in Russian). 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  4. ^ "СКА развивает систему подготовки резерва". ska.ru (in Russian). 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Rangers select Igor Shestyorkin at 118". sny.tv. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Vitali Kravtsov and Igor Shesterkin". National Hockey League. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  7. ^ Joyce, Greg (22 September 2019). "Igor Shesterkin doesn't disappoint in first Rangers start". New York Post. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Wins AHL debut". CBS Sports. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  9. ^ "(VIDEO) Oct. 5 AHL: Hartford (Rangers) 5, Charlotte (Hurricanes) 3". Times Herald-Record. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Rangers Recall Igor Shesterkin from Hartford". National Hockey League. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  11. ^ Obernauer, Michael (6 January 2020). "Igor Shesterkin Set to Make His NHL Debut". National Hockey League. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Panarin helps Shesterkin win NHL debut, Rangers beat Avs 5-3". ESPN. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  13. ^ Chiger, Zak (9 January 2020). "Rangers Double Up Devils As DeAngelo Dominates". foreverblueshirts.com. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  14. ^ Rosen, Dan (24 February 2020). "Shesterkin, Buchnevich injured in car accident". NHL.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Shesterkin gets first NHL shutout, Rangers beat Devils 3-0". AP News. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  16. ^ Rosen, Dan (15 April 2021). "Shesterkin, Rangers shut out Devils for second straight game". National Hockey League. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  17. ^ @NYRStatsInfo (15 April 2021). "According to NHL Stats and Information, Igor Shesterkin is only the second rookie goaltender in Rangers history who has posted a shutout in two consecutive appearances (Lorne Chabot – did so twice during the Rangers' inaugural season in 1926-27). #NYR" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 April 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "NYR Records". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  19. ^ @NYRStatsInfo (15 April 2021). "Also according to NHL Stats and Information, he is the third goalie in #NYR history to post a shutout in two consecutive overall appearances, which were both against the same opponent (Chabot – 1927-28 against the Ottawa Senators; Worsley – 1955-56 against the Boston Bruins)" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 April 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Rangers Agree to Terms with Igor Shesterkin". National Hockey League. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  21. ^ Walker, Mollie (18 October 2021). "Igor Shesterkin backstops Rangers' OT win with Herculean effort". New York Post. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Rangers top Senators to continue post-break success". Reuters. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Markstrom, Shesterkin, Saros named finalists for Vezina Trophy". Sportsnet. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  24. ^ Staple, Arthur (26 April 2022). "Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin for Hart? How his season stacks up historically: 'He's definitely in the conversation'". The Athletic. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Matthews, McDavid, Shesterkin named finalists for Hart Trophy". Sportsnet.ca. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Rangers' Shesterkin takes home Vezina - TSN.ca". TSN. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  27. ^ "2022 NHL Awards: Full list of winners". Sportsnet. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  28. ^ Luszczyszyn, Don; Goldman, Shayna (30 April 2022). "2022 NHL playoff preview: Rangers vs. Penguins". The Athletic. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Penguins top Rangers in triple OT on Evgeni Malkin's game-winner". The Athletic. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Crosby gets 200th point as Pens chase Shesterkin, trounce Rangers for series lead". Sportsnet. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  31. ^ Yohe, Josh (12 May 2022). "Yohe's 10 observations: One hit to Sidney Crosby's head changes everything for the Penguins". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Rangers' Artemi Panarin scores overtime goal to beat Penguins in Game 7". The Athletic. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  33. ^ Rapp, Timothy (22 May 2022). "'Absolute God' Igor Shesterkin Hailed for Saving Rangers' Season vs. Hurricanes". The Bleacher Report. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  34. ^ Bondy, Filip (28 May 2022). "Igor Shesterkin continues to let his play do the talking as Rangers goalie keys Game 6 win". New York Daily News. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  35. ^ Abate, Brian (1 June 2022). "Rangers' Shesterkin Showing Mental Toughness in Playoffs". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  36. ^ Murphy, Bryan (29 May 2022). "Rangers' Igor Shesterkin becomes fifth goalie to record two assists in an NHL playoff game". The Sporting News. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  37. ^ Russo, Michael (3 June 2022). "Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Igor Shesterkin: 'This is like a battle for supremacy'". The Athletic. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  38. ^ Wyshynski, Greg (1 June 2022). "Igor Shesterkin vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy: Inside the Stanley Cup playoffs' ultimate goalie showdown". ESPN. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  39. ^ Cannizzaro, Mark (2 June 2022). "Igor Shesterkin outplays Andrei Vasilevskiy in Rangers' Game 1 win". New York Post. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  40. ^ Cannizzaro, Mark (11 June 2022). "Rangers' Igor Shesterkin shows he belongs with 'best in world'". New York Post. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  41. ^ a b "NHL unveils first, second All-Star teams - TSN.ca". TSN. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Igor Shesterkin Selected to Participate In 2023 NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  43. ^ Abate, Brian (4 May 2023). "Rangers Wasted Shesterkin's Strong Playoff Performance". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  44. ^ Wawrow, John. "Kreider scores twice in Rangers' season-opening 5-1 win over Sabres". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  45. ^ "Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Better and better as game wore on". CBS Sports. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  46. ^ Walker, Mollie (7 January 2024). "Rangers' Igor Shesterkin dishes on All-Star nod: 'Bread deserves it'". New York Post. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  47. ^ "Season in review: Igor Shestyorkin". New York Rangers. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Vezina Trophy
2022 		Succeeded by
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