NHL Scorching Seat Radar: New York Rangers
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We’re again with a brand new version of the THN Scorching Seat, a unbroken collection of THN.com columns the place we nominate one member of each NHL franchise who faces an infinite diploma of stress within the upcoming season.
The new seat nominee may be an NHL participant, head coach, GM, or workforce proprietor. In immediately’s file, we’re inspecting the New York Rangers.
RANGERS HOT SEAT: IGOR SHESTERKIN, GOALTENDER
WHY: The Rangers had been the second-best workforce within the Metropolitan Division final season, and the principle cause why was the play of celebrity goalie Igor Shesterkin. The 26-year-old Russian received the primary of what’s prone to be many Vezina Trophies as the sport’s prime netminder, and he put collectively a sterling 36-13-4 report. That’s 18 extra video games than his earlier career-best (in 2020-21) and in that season, he misplaced 14 video games in regulation time. That, and his phenomenal .935 Save Proportion, in addition to his 2.02 Objectives-Towards Common, ought to inform you all you’ll want to learn about his worth to the Blueshirts, and his dominance of the league typically.
There’s a case to be made that star ahead Artemi Panarin needs to be on the recent seat. In any case, he’s the Rangers’ top-paid participant at $11.6 million per season, and his purpose manufacturing dropped off, from 32 objectives in 69 video games in 2019-20, to 22 objectives in 75 video games final 12 months. However Panarin did set a brand new personal-high in assists (74) and factors (96) in 2021-22, and he had six objectives and 16 factors in 20 playoff video games. There’s going to be stress on him this 12 months, and he is aware of it. He must be the straw that stirs the drink for the Blueshirts’ offense, and the Rangers can’t afford to have his purpose totals proceed trending downward.
That mentioned, the truth is the Rangers are extra depending on Shesterkin’s play than they’re on Panarin’s offense. Though the Rangers’ top-four defensemen are above common, Shesterkin will as soon as once more must do the heavy lifting night-in and night-out to maintain them at or close to the highest of the Metro. Because of this Rangers GM Chris Drury mentioned goodbye to backup Alexandar Georgiev, and as a substitute invested in veteran netminder Jaroslav Halak; the Rangers are the 37-year-old Halak’s fourth workforce up to now six seasons, however he’s nonetheless able to coming in and giving his workforce an opportunity to win. The one concern might be what number of video games he’s able to taking part in, as he’s appeared in solely a mixed 36 video games up to now two seasons. Ideally, Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant want to see Halak play a minimum of 30 video games; that will imply Shesterkin performs about the identical
Nonetheless, the Rangers have a bona fide leviathan between the pipes – and an inexpensive one at that: Shesterkin is underneath contract till the summer time of 2025, at a comparatively insane common annual worth of $5.6 million. His subsequent contract in all probability might be double that quantity, so the Blueshirts must reap the benefits of his high-value present deal. The Rangers nonetheless must see star-level output from Panarin, in addition to progress from younger forwards Kaapo Kaako and Alexis Lafreniere, however they’ll be going nowhere quick if, for no matter cause, Shesterkin doesn’t play as much as the extent he’s established he can carry out at.
That doesn’t appear seemingly, although. What does is Shesterkin getting extra assist as younger defenders Adam Fox and Ok’Andre Miller enhance. And that ought to frighten the Rangers’ Metro division rivals. Most GMs would give their greatest good friend in return for a expertise like Shesterkin’s. However the Rangers have him, and so they received’t be letting him go.
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