Igor Shesterkin receives strong praise from his new Rangers teammate

Igor Shesterkin has been earning high praise from his new Rangers teammate, Reilly Smith, for his stellar performances, despite one rough game this season where he allowed six goals. Even with that, Shesterkin’s stats are among the best in the league, boasting a 3-0-1 record, a 1.95 goals-against average, and a .935 save percentage. In his other three starts, he recorded a shutout against the Penguins, allowed just one goal in wins against the Red Wings and Maple Leafs, and made several game-changing saves.

Because of course. 🎩 pic.twitter.com/xuorS0b0Y2

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 20, 2024

Smith highlighted how Shesterkin has kept the Rangers ahead in games that should have been closer, crediting his ability to stop near-certain goals and shift the momentum. Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz also acknowledged Shesterkin’s value, noting that he’s on track to become the highest-paid goalie in the league. This comes as Shesterkin, a pending unrestricted free agent, has reportedly declined an eight-year, $88 million contract offer from the Rangers, seeking a salary of over $12 million per season.