When talking about New York Rangers history, you cannot ignore the many incredible goalies throughout the team’s history. None were better in their careers than Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist did just about everything a goalie could do in their careers except for completing the ultimate task: winning the Stanley Cup. It seems Igor Shesterkin is suffering the same fate as his predecessor as well, with the Rangers being a complete train wreck in front of him.

Funny enough, Shesterkin is the reason why Lundqvist was bought out and signed with the Washington Capitals before being forced to retire due to a heart condition. The net became Igor’s, and it seems Lundqvist blessed him with elite talent and a terrible team. A true monkey’s paw, if you will.

With Shesterkin on board after Lundqvist was bought out, the Rangers continued dominance in net led to more playoff appearances. Shesterkin and Lundqvist shared the net in the 2020 playoff bubble, failing to win a game. Shesterkin got his first experience as the top dog in 2022, winning two rounds and almost taking the team to the Stanley Cup. After a rough 2023 showing, Shesterkin won another two rounds, then almost took his team to the Stanley Cup again.

Lundqvist was lucky in his career that after 2010, he enjoyed a streak of making the playoffs every year from 2011-2018. In that stretch, Lundqvist made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012, 2014, and 2015, and the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014. Unfortunately, the Rangers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals twice and the Stanley Cup Finals once.

Igor Shesterkin, on the other hand, is 0-2 in his Eastern Conference Finals career. During neither of those rounds was Shesterkin remotely the problem. 

Unfortunately, Shesterkin’s career is starting to look a bit like deja vu when compared to Lundqvist’s. Lundqvist was always the guy for the Rangers. When all else was failing, he was the steady presence that kept the team winning. Shesterkin is much the same. Though he has had his down stretches, there’s never been any doubt that he’s a top-five goalie in the sport.

Yet with Lundqvist and now with Shesterkin, the team around the goalie still matters. In Lundqvist’s career, the Rangers were always missing a star or two to put the team over the top. Vibes matter, but talent matters more. With Shesterkin, the Rangers lost in the Conference Finals to two teams with far more starpower and far more depth.

Some might blame the goalies contracts for that lack of starpower or depth, but I’d blame the GMs. Lundqvist suffered through a career of playing under Glen Sather, and now Shesterkin is suffering playing under Chris Drury.

Shesterkin deserves better than this, just like how Lundqvist deserved better in his career. It’s not too late for Shesterkin. Hopefully the team can build around him in this next retool approach and prove they’ve learned from their mistakes. I’m sure no one is rooting harder for that than Henrik Lundqvist. He knows all too well.

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