With Igor Shesterkin Sidelined, the Rangers Face a Crossroads in Net
It’s becoming increasingly clear: Rangers fans may have seen the last of Igor Shesterkin this season. The star netminder hasn’t played since exiting a January 5 game against the Utah Mammoth, and with no concrete timeline for his return, the writing’s on the wall. New York’s season has taken a steep turn since his injury, and the idea of him returning after the Olympics feels more like wishful thinking than a realistic scenario.
Before the injury, Shesterkin was the glue holding the Rangers together. While the team wasn’t exactly dominating the standings, his elite-level goaltending kept them in the playoff picture. Night after night, he masked defensive lapses and inconsistent play with the kind of performances that reminded everyone why he’s one of the league’s premier goalies.
But once Shesterkin went down, the cracks became impossible to ignore. His absence left a gaping hole in the crease, and the team’s form quickly unraveled. The Rangers have struggled to find their footing since, and with the postseason slipping further out of reach, it raises a tough question: even if Shesterkin were medically cleared, is there any real reason to bring him back this season?
If this season is effectively lost, there’s little upside to rushing Shesterkin back into action. He’s a franchise cornerstone, and risking further injury in a campaign that’s trending downward doesn’t add up. Unless he’s fully healthy and personally pushing to get back on the ice for his own rhythm and rehab, the prudent move might be to shut him down and focus on the long term.
Opportunity in Uncertainty: Time to Test the Young Guns
With Shesterkin likely shelved and veteran Jonathan Quick battling inconsistency, this could be the perfect time for the Rangers to turn the spotlight on their young goaltenders. It’s not about finding the next Shesterkin overnight-it’s about seeing what you’ve got in the pipeline.
Enter Hugo Ollas. The 6-foot-8 Swedish netminder, a seventh-round pick from the 2020 NHL Draft, hasn’t seen any NHL action yet.
He’s spent time in the ECHL with the Bloomington Bison, where he posted a 3.18 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. Those numbers don’t exactly leap off the page, but minor league stats often don’t tell the full story.
For a goalie of Ollas’ size and raw potential, NHL reps-even in a limited sample-could be invaluable for his development and for the organization’s evaluation process.
Then there’s Dylan Garand, another 23-year-old and a 2020 draftee, taken in the fourth round. Garand has been logging time in the AHL, where he’s put up a 2.13 GAA and an .887 save percentage through 26 games. Like Ollas, he hasn’t made an NHL appearance this season, but with the current state of the Rangers’ goaltending, there’s a real opportunity here to get him some meaningful minutes.
Neither Ollas nor Garand is viewed as a can’t-miss prospect. But that’s exactly why this stretch run matters.
If the Rangers don’t give these young goalies a real look in NHL action, they’re flying blind when it comes to their long-term depth chart. This is the time to evaluate-not just for the sake of development, but to inform future decisions.
Whether that means investing in another goalie down the line or trusting internal options depends on what they learn now.
The Bigger Picture
This season might not end with a playoff berth or a deep run, but it can still serve a purpose. The Rangers are at a pivotal point in their goaltending evolution. Shesterkin remains the centerpiece, but every elite goalie needs a capable backup-or a successor down the line.
If the Rangers use this stretch wisely, they can turn a frustrating situation into a forward-thinking evaluation period. It’s not about giving up; it’s about looking ahead. And that starts with giving the next wave of netminders their shot.