Depending on a hockey team’s makeup, the individual’s performance between the pipes could either derail a group’s chance at the Stanley Cup or propel it. Some teams can get by with average goaltending – others need it to perform at an elite level.
Related: Rangers’ Last Dance With This Core Unsuccessful Amid Failed 2024-25 Season
Thanks to the generational talents of Igor Shesterkin and Henrik Lundqvist, the New York Rangers have been spoiled with high-level netminding for almost this entire century. However, the Blueshirts have disappointed in 2024-25 and remain out of a playoff position. Yes, the Rangers’ poor defensive play is the biggest reason for the lackluster performance – but it also wouldn’t be fair to fully exonerate the goaltending at times.
Shesterkin Providing Subpar to Average Play for Most of the Season
This season, Shesterkin has saved almost 13 goals above expected (GSA), according to MoneyPuck. That ranks 9th amongst goaltenders who have appeared in at least 30 games. Meanwhile, over the weekend, the Russian native ranked 18th in the category and was saving about eight goals above expected – but two strong starts in a row have raised his numbers. Over that span, Shesterkin has saved 73 of the last 77 shots faced.
Even if he ranks ninth or below average in GSA, fans rightfully expect more. While Shesterkin can’t be fully blamed, he has offered subpar to average goaltending to the Rangers for the most part this season. The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner ranks 15th in save percentage (.906) amongst goaltenders with at least 30 games played this season.
That’s nowhere near acceptable enough for someone who will soon make a record average annual value for a goaltender of $11.5 million. For a goaltender of his caliber, Shesterkin should consistently be in the top five for GSA. Nobody, for example, has been more consistent recently than Connor Hellebuyck, who has saved an astonishing 30 goals above expected over the past two seasons.
It’s also important to point out that Quick in 19 games this season hasn’t been great either. The Milford, Connecticut native is in negative territory for GSA, at minus-1.9. It’s a substantial difference from 2023-24 when Quick saved 10 GSA.
Other Rangers Have Struggled
While the goaltending for the Blueshirts has lagged, who hasn’t had a down season on the team? From Alexis Lafrenière to Mika Zibanejad, almost everybody’s scoring production is down significantly compared with 2023-24. Lafrenière, for example, is on pace for 45 points in 2024-25, down from the 57 he posted last season. On the defensive side of the ice, the team has allowed the third most high-danger chances in the league, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Almost everybody on the roster with the exception of the fourth line, which has consisted of a mix of Adam Edström, Matt Rempe, Sam Carrick, and Jimmy Vesey for most of the season, has disappointed to some degree. And when your fourth line is just about the lone bright spot of the team – you know you have problems and the blame can’t only be put on the goaltender.
It’s also important to note that the Rangers have dealt with off-ice distractions including the rumors surrounding former captain Jacob Trouba.
Why Rangers Fans Shouldn’t Worry
While there’s an argument to be made about committing long-term dollars on goaltenders, given the volatility of the position – Rangers fans shouldn’t panic about Shesterkin and the goaltending just yet.
For one, perhaps Shesterkin is starting to find his grove. He has been lights out over the past two games.
Secondly, history should give you full confidence that he has more to offer. Whether we go back to his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) days when he consistently had seasons with save percentages in the .930s (some even in the .950s), when he saved 34.1 GSA in his Vezina-winning season, or when he steals the show in the postseason – the evidence is there.
Multiple things can be true. While Shesterkin and Quick aren’t to be fully blamed for this season, Rangers fans rightfully expect a lot from whoever is between the pipes. Particularly, this is true for Shesterkin. Soon, he will get a huge jump in his salary. The expectation is that he plays like the best goaltender in the world on most nights. Volatile play isn’t going to be acceptable. This season, the goaltending for the Rangers has underperformed just as the rest of the team has. But it is far from a cause for concern over the long term for the Blueshirts.
