Igor Shesterkin

Igor Olegovich Shestyorkin (often spelled Shesterkin; born 30 December 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers in the NHL. The Rangers picked him in the fourth round, 118th overall, in the 2014 draft. In his first full NHL season (2021–22), he won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender.

Shesterkin started his youth career with Krylya Sovetov Moscow. At 16, he was selected 43rd overall by Spartak Moscow in the 2012 KHL Draft. He spent the 2012–13 season playing for MHK Spartak in the MHL. He made his KHL debut on 20 January 2014, playing the final eight minutes in relief of Alexei Ivanov during a 5–3 loss to HC Ugra. Three days later, he got his first start, allowing two goals in a 3–1 loss to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. His first win came on 2 March, a 33-save shutout against HC Slovan Bratislava. Back in the MHL, he posted a 12–7 record in 19 playoff games with a 1.75 goals-against average, .937 save percentage, and four shutouts, helping MHK Spartak win the MHL championship.

Out of contract with Spartak, Shesterkin signed with SKA Saint Petersburg on 6 June 2014. Ranked the fifth-best goaltender prospect, he was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round, 118th overall, on 28 June 2014.

On 3 May 2019, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Rangers. After a preseason game on 21 September (36 saves on 40 shots in a 4–1 loss to Philadelphia), he was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL. He made his AHL debut on 5 October, making 26 saves in a 5–3 win over the Charlotte Checkers. On 6 January 2020, the Rangers recalled him after he posted a 15–4–3 record and was named to the AHL All-Star Classic. In his NHL debut on 7 January, he made 29 saves in a 5–3 win against the Colorado Avalanche. Two days later, he became the sixth Rangers goaltender to win his first two games. On 23 February 2020, he and teammate Pavel Buchnevich were in a car crash; Shesterkin suffered a rib fracture.

On 13 April 2021, he earned his first NHL shutout in a 3–0 win over the New Jersey Devils. Two days later, he recorded his second shutout in a 4–0 win against the same team, becoming the second Rangers rookie with back-to-back shutouts and the first Ranger to do so since Antti Raanta in December 2016. He was also the third Ranger in franchise history to shut out the same opponent in consecutive games.