It’s been a season filled with highs and lows for Igor Shesterkin.
Early on in the year, the Rangers awarded Shesterkin with an eight-year, $92 million extension, ending a long-standing negotiation.
It was a joyous time for Shesterkin as he became the highest-paid goalie in NHL history.
Despite some early season struggles, everyone still expected the Rangers to make the playoffs with Shesterkin leading them there.
However, the Rangers’ season quickly went off the rails, and before they knew it, the playoffs went from a certainty to a pipe dream.
“Pretty high,” Igor Shesterkin said about missing the disappointment after missing the playoffs. “10/10.”
For Shesterkin, his play seemed to fluctuate. There were some nights when he played like the best goalie in the world and others when he just didn’t appear to be at the top of his game.
It’s worth noting that the Rangers didn’t do a whole lot to help their superstar goalie.
All season long New York struggled defensively, giving up glaring breakdowns in their own zone and leaving Shesterkin helpless.
They oftentimes relied on Shesterkin to be Superman and that’s always a recipe for disaster.
The 29-year-old goalie dealt with a couple of nagging injuries this year and the team’s constant reliance on him certainly didn’t do his health any favors.
Shesterkin’s 26-29-5 record, 2.91 goals against average, and .903 save percentage come out to be his worst statistical season of his career, but it doesn't give him justice.
Especially later on in the season when the Rangers were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, Shesterkin’s usage skyrocketed and he elevated his play to a level that kept the Ragers afloat.
It still wasn’t enough though, which is a problem. Having a goalie the likes of Shesterkin is a privilege that the Rangers must take advantage of.
Running him into the ground and solely relying on him to win games will only lead to harm down the road.
Take Carey Price for example. Price led the Montreal Canadiens to multiple playoff appearances, but he never won a Stanley Cup and his career was cut prematurely due to injuries.
Why did this happen?
It wasn’t because of Price’s talent that’s one thing for sure. The Canadiens didn’t surround Price with the right pieces throughout his career and worked him into the ground until injuries derailed his career as they squandered their championship window with a Hall-of-Fame goalie.
The Rangers must make sure to not follow that same path and it already feels like they are. Shesterkin can still be the heart and soul of the Rangers without putting the weight of the world on his back.
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