Rangers' Goalie Igor Shesterkin: New Contract, New Season, New King of New York

Igor Shesterkin attends clinic in Cherepovets with Pavel Buchnevich // HC Severstal

Igor Shesterkin is one of the best goalies in the world. The Russian goalie has been playing for the Rangers since 2019 and, without exaggeration, has become a team legend. Last season, the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the Florida Panthers in six games. Two years ago, the Rangers also played in the Eastern Conference finals, losing to Tampa 2-4.

About The Past Playoff And Panthers' Victory

“I left Florida upset both times,” Shesterkin said in an interview with RG.org. "The first time we played in the conference finals, we were a team no one believed in. No one expected us to achieve anything. Now, we entered the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners. Everyone expected a good result from us. We fought hard, but luck was not always on our side. The main thing is that we remain the same close-knit team. We must wake up every day believing we want to win the Cup. And then everything will happen."

This year, Shesterkin lost a duel to Sergei Bobrovsky, another top goalie from Russia.

"We know each other, and after the game we thanked each other for the series," Shesterkin said. "I wished Sergei good luck in the final. We are not close friends, but I can always turn to him if I need something. And he can, too. But I don't think Sergei can learn anything new from me."

Shesterkin admitted that he supported Florida in the final.

"Bobrovsky deserved the Cup," Shesterkin said. "I'm glad he managed to achieve this result. I hope it will be our turn now. As for the final, it is interesting that the series went from 0-3 to 3-3. That's hockey. Often, the last step is the hardest to take. You work so hard for this: eight months of the regular season, two months of the playoffs, you're up 3-0, and you have 60 minutes left to win the main trophy, but something always goes wrong. It can break you, but Florida pulled themselves together and played confidently in Game 7."

Shesterkin played at the highest level in the playoffs. In 16 games, he had a 92.7 save percentage. The 28-year-old was also spectacular during the Eastern Conference Finals despite his team being overmatched by the Florida Panthers. He stopped 30+ shots in four of the six games to give them a chance.

"The playoffs are additional motivation," Shesterkin said. "In the playoffs, finding peace, focus, and confidence is easier for me. I don't do anything special, I don't change my preparation. It's the same routine before the games. I hope that next season, we will have 16 wins in the playoffs. There is a bit of anxiety before the opening faceoff, but once you touch the puck, you forget about it.

It is incredibly pleasant to play at Madison Square Garden when the fans are waving white towels and cheering loudly. All this energy gives you a sense of being in the moment and enjoying what is happening."

Regular Season And Quick's Arrival

The last regular season could have been better for Shesterkin, especially in the first half. However, he then pulled himself together and showed class. He was named to his third consecutive All-Star game and finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting after recording 36 wins, four shutouts, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.58 goals against average in 55 games. There was a version that Shesterkin's problems at the start were connected with the arrival of experienced Jonathan Quick, who played successfully as a backup (91.1 save percentage and 2.62 goals against in 27 games).

"Quick's arrival had only a positive effect on me," the goalie said. "We have an excellent relationship. He is a great goalie and person. I was unhappy with the regular season, then I became happy. Now, I don't want to think about what was right and what was wrong. I want to concentrate on the positive moments.

Quick can adjust to you. If you want, he can talk to you like an experienced guy and maybe even a best friend. It's nice to have such a colleague with so much experience. We talked a lot with him. John helped me find myself, calm down, and continue doing my job. I watched him play, enjoyed it, and noticed something for myself. And step by step, I found my game."

Shesterkin also noted the role of the coaching staff.

"We had a couple of meetings with Peter Laviolette, but I won't tell you what we discussed," Shesterkin said. "We talked more with goalie coach Benoit Allaire. We calmly discussed all these issues. There was no talk about me losing my number one position. Basically, it was about the fact that I needed to calm down and find my game."

Working With Peter Laviolette

Peter Laviolette took over the Rangers last summer. Under his leadership, the team won the Presidents' Trophy and finished the regular season with team records for points (114) and wins (55).

"Our game system has changed," Shesterkin said. "Laviolette pays much attention to detail. We have many meetings. Everything was positive. We added team games that brought the team together. I talked to guys from other teams where Laviolette also worked, and they said that he practiced this there. The coach would do a cycle of four games and ask the players to do something special in them, and the best three players completing the tasks would get a gift from him. Once he presented Artemi Panarin a DVD, but Artemi said he did not have a DVD player. Laviolette brought him a DVD player  as a gift the next day. Towards the end of the season, I also started getting some gifts.”

New Contract

Igor Shesterkin's four-year $22.67 million contract expires in a year. The goalie can sign a new deal with the Rangers starting July 1, 2024. The Russian confirmed that he is in talks with the club.

"My agent, Maxim Moliver, is talking to the general manager," Shesterkin said. "I can't say anything else. For me, the most important thing now is preparing for the season and being 100% ready mentally and physically. An exciting season is ahead, and the agent will discuss the contract.

We have been working with Moliver for a long time. I came to America without knowing English, but Max lived in New York, so he could always go and help. It is very comfortable for us to work together. He does not have many clients, so he can pay much attention to me."

Preparing For The New Season

Shesterkin is spending the summer in Russia, which he has not visited for two years due to family circumstances. In the first half of August, Igor trained in Yaroslavl with the famous Russian goalie coach Rashit Davydov, whom he met while still playing for SKA.

"We write to each other after my games," Shesterkin said. "The last time I could come to Russia was two years ago, so we communicated online. I sent him videos of my training; he noticed some things and told me about them. I'm spending the summer in Russia this year, and as soon as I arrived, I texted him. Thanks to the Lokomotiv management for being kind to me, helping with ice in Yaroslavl, and allowing me to train with Davydov.

I'm going through a two-week training cycle in Yaroslavl. Lokomotiv has exhibition games in mid-August, and the team is training in its hometown, so I was able to come. For the rest of the time, I train in Moscow with another coach, Vsevolod Kondrashov. I'm flying to America at the end of August to properly acclimatize and calmly prepare for the new season."

Shesterkin said he also has a complete mutual understanding with Benoit Allaire:

"We have the same thing with Benoit. It's just that we can't work with him in the summer. During the season, we pay attention to other aspects of the game. This is also interesting. He and I have complete understanding."

Last year, Shesterkin did not fly to Russia and prepared for the season in the United States.

"Everything is at the highest level at the Rangers," he said. "A week after the end of the season, you can already start skating and training in the gym. I spent part of the preseason in Miami, where many guys from the NHL and AHL skated. Some combine it with rest. Some come there specifically to prepare. Last year, we trained with Ilya Sorokin for two weeks."

The goalkeeper admitted that he faced a problem in New York - he only sometimes had partners for training:

"Many guys do not really understand what needs to be done for the goalie. When we were eliminated by the Devils last year, we stayed to train with Volodya Tarasenko. It was enjoyable to train with him - he does everything for the goalkeeper. Usually, guys do not skate for a long time, paying more attention to physical training. When they start skating, they do their exercises to get more tired. When you train with a goalkeeper, it is more static work, and they want more dynamics. Young drafted guys can train at the base. If you talk to the coaching staff, you can ask one of the young ones to train with you."

Igor Shesterkin and Pavel Buchnevich // HC Severstal

Friendship With Buchnevich, Kaprizov And Sorokin

In the summer, Shesterkin pays attention not only to training but also to public affairs. On August 12, the goalie attended a master class for young players in Cherepovets, Pavel Buchnevich's hometown.

"Pasha is a good friend of mine," Shesterkin said. "He asked me to come, and my schedule allowed it. It's great to look at the happy eyes of the kids. I also enjoyed it and got a positive charge. I remember how, as a child, I saw professional players and was inspired.

Of course, I mainly communicate with the guys who play hockey. I am friends with Kirill Kaprizov and Ilya Sorokin. After the games, we can talk. Before the All-Star, we went on vacation together and stayed in the same hotel. When you are going through a bad streak or not in the mood, we can not text. In Moscow, I have several friends with whom I used to play hockey.

Even though Sorokin and I both live in New York, we rarely see each other. We have to travel a lot, and our schedules are busy. Usually, if they play at home, we go on the road. We rarely see each other during the season. At the games, we have a tradition: there is always a duel of glances before the start of the game. Afterward, we can talk. "

The New King of New York

Shesterkin is called the new king of New York. Previously, this title belonged to the Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

"He was my idol," Shesterkin said. "It's nice that I managed to talk to him. Now I look at how he dresses and what suits he buys. Henrik and I see each other at team events. He is invited there as a former player. He is open, and it is always pleasant to talk to him.

During the last season, Lundqvist invited the whole team to his house to watch the Super Bowl. We had a day off, and Henrik gathered all the guys at his place. He gave us a tour of his apartment; he lives in Manhattan, with a gorgeous view, like in the best movies. What struck me most was the entire dressing room with suits. I thought all the suits there were the same color, but they were all different in one color tone.

I like wearing suits myself. I consult with my wife about style. It is an opportunity for self-expression. I have about 15 of them. I try to buy two suits every year because they wear out quickly when traveling."

Popularity And Life In New York

Like most Rangers players, Shesterkin does not live in Manhattan but outside the city, closer to the team's training arena:

"We live outside the city, so we rarely get to walk in the center. If we go out somewhere, people might recognize me. Nobody shouts. They just come up and wish me luck. I’m not very popular in the city where we live, but in the neighboring town, there are more hockey fans, and they always recognize me there. You can walk down the street, and people will honk at you, give you a thumbs up, and wish you luck. Of course, I’m not Sasha Ovechkin, I’m not that recognizable. If I saw Ovechkin in a store, I’d come up to him too.”

Since there are always traffic jams in Manhattan, the club has found solutions for the players so they won’t be late for the games.

“The club provides a hotel after the morning skate," Shesterkin said. "If you want, you can go there and sleep there. If you want, you can go home. But last season, Laviolette introduced a rule that everyone must arrive at the hotel four hours before the game starts – this is done so that no one is late for the game because of traffic. If the game is at 7 p.m. and you haven’t arrived at the hotel by 3 p.m., there will be a fine. It has never happened that anyone was late, but there have been times when guys arrived just in time. But I always stayed at the hotel. I like to sleep during the day, so I am never late.”

If Shesterkin might not be recognized on the streets of New York, he is idolized at Madison Square Garden, and his name is chanted almost every game:

“Of course, I hear it. It’s additional motivation. It’s a pleasant feeling. But you are in the game and concentrating on the puck. It’s always nice to be at Madison Square Garden. It’s our home, our fortress. It’s cool to play with our fans. Our fans are the best.”