The first 32 players for the 2024 All Star Game have been announced, and Igor Shesterkin will represent the Rangers. Shesterkin was a bit of a surprise, at least being the first player on the Rangers to be announced as an All Star. His numbers aren’t overly spectacular this season, sporting a .908 SV%, 5th in the Eastern Conference. But the All Star selections have always been a tad wacky.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Artemi Panarin wasn’t the first selection from the Rangers. However it was later noted that Panarin declined the All Star Game this year, as he and his wife are expecting their second child around that time. That’s as good a reason as any to miss the All Star Game.
Perhaps Panarin’s decision to decline is why another goalie from the Eastern Conference wasn’t selected. Sergei Bobrovsky certainly deserves the honor. As does Ilya Sorokin, who is doing his best impression of early career Henrik Lundqvist, not in performance necessarily, but in dragging a very flawed team to a playoff position.
The next phase will be the fan vote for All Stars, so perhaps we will see Chris Kreider make the cut again.
Share:
More About:Awards