HIGHLIGHTS
- Igor Shesterkin expected to miss 1-2 weeks with latest injury setback
- Rangers have only one game before 4 Nations Face-off tournament break
- Read on for complete details about Shesterkin’s injury and timeline
The New York Rangers can’t catch a break with Igor Shesterkin, but this time there’s a silver lining.
The franchise netminder is expected to miss the next one to two weeks with an injury, marking his second stint on the shelf this season.
#NYR Igor Shesterkin has suffered an upper body and is expected to return in 1-2 weeks, per source https://t.co/ga2Y7xIJOS
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) February 8, 2025
Shesterkin, who inked a massive eight-year, $92 million extension that kicks in for 2025-26, last suited up in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh where he stopped 23 shots.
The good news? The Rangers only have one game before the 4 Nations Face-off tournament begins, and Shesterkin should be ready when regular NHL action resumes.
Jonathan Quick will get the nod against Columbus on Saturday night, stepping in for Shesterkin who’s battled consistency issues this season. The Russian netminder sits at 18-19-2 with a 2.87 GAA and .906 save percentage – numbers that don’t reflect his usual elite standard.
#NYR Jonathan Quick in goal tonight vs. #CBJ.
As for Urho Vaakanainen, who has missed the last two games due to illness, head coach Peter Laviolette says they’re still working through things in the room.
We’ll have to wait for warmups.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) February 8, 2025
“It’s really nice to have it done,” Rangers GM Chris Drury said about locking up Shesterkin long-term. “To have the certainty with the position and knowing what the cap hit is going to be moving forward.”
This latest setback continues a rough stretch for New York, who’ve been navigating lineup changes and dealing with various injuries. Shesterkin already missed four games in January with an upper-body issue before returning on January 10.
The timing isn’t ideal, but it could be worse. With just one game on tap before the tournament break, the Rangers avoid rushing their $92-million man back between the pipes. Quick provides reliable veteran insurance in the meantime.
When Shesterkin’s new deal kicks in, he’ll surpass Carey Price’s $10.5 million cap hit as the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. The Rangers are betting big on the 28-year-old returning to the form that won him the Vezina Trophy in 2022.
For now, they’ll have to weather another short storm without their star netminder. But with the schedule working in their favor and Quick holding down the fort, the Rangers can afford to be patient with their franchise cornerstone’s recovery.
“I’m certainly not opposed to make more changes,” Drury noted on the team’s overall situation. “But big picture… I’d like to let the dust settle a little bit.”
