With Igor Shesterkin Sidelined, the Rangers Face a Crucial Goaltending Crossroads
As the NHL calendar ticks past the All-Star break and eyes turn toward the Olympics, one thing is becoming increasingly clear for the New York Rangers: Igor Shesterkin isn’t likely to return this season. And frankly, given how things have unraveled since his injury, there might not be much of a reason for him to.
Let’s rewind for a moment. The Rangers were hanging around the playoff picture earlier this season, and a big part of that was Shesterkin doing what he does best-stealing games. Even when the team wasn’t playing its sharpest hockey, the 2022 Vezina winner was the safety net, masking defensive lapses and keeping the Blueshirts competitive.
But everything changed on January 5, when Shesterkin exited a game against the Utah Mammoth and landed on injured reserve. Since then, the Rangers’ season has gone off the rails. Without their star between the pipes, the team has struggled to find its footing, and the playoff hopes that once felt within reach have started to fade.
There’s been no official word on a timeline for Shesterkin’s return, but with the way the season is trending, the question isn’t just when he might come back-it’s why he would. Unless he’s fully healthy and itching to get back on the ice purely for rehab purposes, there’s little incentive to rush him into action.
This isn’t about waving the white flag-it’s about being smart with one of the franchise’s most important assets. Shesterkin is the backbone of this team’s long-term future.
There’s no need to risk anything in a season that’s already slipping away.
Time to See What the Kids Can Do
With Shesterkin likely done for the year and veteran Jonathan Quick showing signs of wear, the Rangers now have an opportunity-maybe even an obligation-to take a long look at their young goaltenders.
Enter Hugo Ollas and Dylan Garand, both 23 years old and both products of the 2020 NHL Draft. Neither has seen NHL ice this season, but that could-and arguably should-change in the coming weeks.
Ollas, a towering 6-foot-8 netminder taken in the seventh round, has spent his season in the ECHL with the Bloomington Bison. His numbers-3.18 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage-don’t jump off the page, but minor league stats rarely tell the full story. The raw tools are there, and at this point in the season, giving him a taste of NHL action could be invaluable for his development.
Garand, a fourth-round pick, has been holding things down in the AHL, where he’s posted a 2.13 GAA and a .887 SV% over 26 games. Again, the save percentage isn’t ideal, but the workload and experience are building blocks. He’s been in the system for a few years now, and the Rangers could benefit from seeing how he handles the speed and pressure of the NHL.
Let’s be clear: neither Ollas nor Garand is viewed as a blue-chip prospect. But that’s exactly why this moment matters.
If the Rangers don’t give these young goalies a real look, they’ll never know what they have. And when it comes time to make decisions-whether it’s drafting, trading, or signing a free agent-they need clarity on what’s already in the pipeline.
What Comes Next?
This isn’t just about finishing out the season-it’s about laying the groundwork for the next one. The Rangers need to evaluate their goaltending depth with eyes wide open.
Maybe one of these young guys surprises. Maybe they don’t.
Either way, the team gains valuable insight.
And as for Shesterkin? The best move might be the most cautious one.
Let him heal, let the young guns take a spin, and let the Rangers use the rest of this season as a testing ground. Because while this year may be slipping away, the future still runs through No.
- And the smarter the Rangers are now, the better positioned they’ll be when that future arrives.