The New York Rangers are in a implausible scenario proper now. They possess a number of high quality goaltenders however want to determine find out how to make the most of them. This subsequent season goes to be crucial in organising the Rangers’ future in web.
Henrik Lundqvist, Alexandar Georgiev, and Igor Shesterkin are all anticipated to have important roles subsequent season and presumably past. However, like a puzzle, the actual problem can be discovering the place they slot in because the staff strikes ahead.
Henrik Lundqvist
That is maybe the simplest of the selections with regard to subsequent season. Lundqvist has manned the Rangers web for a decade and a half, and can proceed to take action.
He has acquired important criticism from many followers resulting from his declining play. However the vital factor to recollect is that a goaltender’s poor efficiency is commonly the results of poor play in entrance of him.
Lundqvist has been placing up barely worse numbers over the previous a number of seasons even when the Rangers had their previous defensive corps in tact. Nevertheless it was final season throughout which his numbers actually slipped.
However take into consideration who he was enjoying behind. Neal Pionk and Anthony DeAngelo spent all season in entrance of Lundqvist however are nonetheless younger defenders acclimating to the league. Marc Staal has slowed down significantly and Kevin Shattenkirk has by no means been good within the defensive zone.
Had been Lundqvist’s statistics worse than traditional? Completely. However the impact that poor defensive play had on his capability to maintain the puck out of the web can’t be overstated.
New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. (AP Picture/Julio Cortez)
He’s removed from “carried out” within the NHL and can resume his duties because the Rangers’ beginning netminder subsequent season. Ultimately he’ll be on his means out, however his present contract nonetheless has two years left.
Igor Shesterkin
Shesterkin goes to have an attention-grabbing entrance to the NHL. Due to the logjam on the goalie place proper now, he’s not going to be rushed in to the league.
Shesterkin wasn’t extremely spectacular through the Rangers’ prospect improvement camp, however that is primarily because of the distinction in ice floor dimension in North America in comparison with Russia.
The agile Russian netminder is presumably the staff’s future franchise goalie. That stated, if the Rangers rush him to the NHL degree then he might by no means develop the best way he’s imagined to. He should study the ins and outs of his place in these smaller rinks earlier than he faces prime degree expertise.
Shesterkin might get a number of video games within the NHL this season relying on his efficiency elsewhere. He’s seemingly going to be the brand new beginning goaltender for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.
That stated, the Rangers have loads of goalie prospects who can be competing with Shesterkin for that very place within the AHL. Olof Lindom was the Rangers’ second-round choice within the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Adam Huska was a 2015 seventh-round decide. Each might be competing for beginning goaltender for the Wolf Pack.
Igor Shesterkin throughout a 2015 KHL recreation. (www.dinamoriga.eu)
Even though Shesterkin will seemingly spend a lot of the season within the AHL, the objective is prone to put him on a path to take over Lundqvist’s job when his contract expires. Which means that after spending this season within the AHL, Shesterkin will seemingly be Lundqvist’s backup through the season after.
Alexandar Georgiev
This makes Georgiev the wild card. Whereas he’s secure as Lundqvist’s backup for now, he would be the odd man out in due time.
Georgiev had an attention-grabbing begin to his profession. After going undrafted on the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he was invited to the Rangers’ prospect improvement camp that yr. He was ultimately supplied an entry-level contract.
He made his debut proper across the time that the Rangers introduced their rebuild through a letter to season ticket holders. In a season and a half as Lundqvist’s backup, Georgiev has established himself as a possible future beginning goalie.
He has been strong sufficient that some folks have questioned whether or not or not he must be the Rangers’ beginning goalie shifting ahead. He began nearly all of the video games for the Rangers over the last couple weeks of final season in order that the group might get a greater take a look at him.
The spotlight of his profession to date was making 55 saves en path to a Four-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on his 23rd birthday.
However the place does he match? He’s the backup for now, however what occurs when Shesterkin is able to make the soar to the NHL? It is going to all be depending on Shesterkin’s play within the AHL this season.
If Shesterkin is performing effectively and displaying he is able to be Lundqvist’s backup quickly, anticipate the Rangers to buy Georgiev on the commerce deadline. Groups just like the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, who simply signed ageing veteran goaltenders in Mike Smith and Cam Talbot respectively, would like to get their arms on a younger netminder with starter potential.
New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev eyes the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs heart John Tavares makes an attempt to get his stick on it. (AP Picture/ Invoice Kostroun)
No matter the way it goes down, the Rangers are in a great place heading into the upcoming season. If Lundqvist is performing poorly, they will flip to Georgiev and stay aggressive. If Lundqvist will get harm, Shesterkin can have a shot to be a backup behind Georgiev. That is going to be an thrilling yr for Rangers goaltenders.
