The New York Rangers made goaltender Igor Shesterkin the highest-paid goalie in NHL history in December, but he hasn’t played like it.
Even after the Rangers started the season 14-12-1, they have since gone 14-13-3 to have a mediocre 28-25-4 record. Shesterkin is by no means the only player not meeting expectations for them this season, but his .903 save percentage and 2.98 goals-against average are career worsts.
The Rangers need help if they want to sneak into the Stanley Cup playoffs and rebound next season. Shesterkin stealing some games and living up to the new contract would be a big help.
Shesterkin recently said his play has been “not good so far.” That’s also a good description of six of his past seven appearances, where Shesterkin has posted a save percentage of .885 or worse.
Shesterkin looked more like his old self in Sunday’s win over the sad-sack Pittsburgh Penguins, posting a .925 save percentage. He did have back-to-back shutouts on Jan. 18 and Jan. 21 against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, respectively.
Even after that, the Rangers are two points behind the Senators for the second and final wild-card spot, but the Boston Bruins and Blue Jackets are ahead of the Rangers in the standings.
Shesterkin hasn’t been particularly bad overall. But when you take into account his $11.5-million cap hit that kicks in for the next eight seasons, you absolutely need him to be a needle-mover and a difference-maker in a way he hasn’t been this year.
Even if the Rangers fail to make the playoffs this season, another good performance from Shesterkin down the stretch would at least give fans reason for optimism over the summer and at the beginning of next year.
When you’re generally acknowledged as one of the top netminders on the planet – and when you’re paid as such – you have to be dominant on the regular.
Rangers fans have every right to expect more from Shesterkin. The way he responds in the next few weeks and months will dictate the Rangers’ fortunes.
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