New York Rangers‘ 4th round pick in the 2014 draft (#118 overall) 5th year Russian-born goaltender Igor Shesterkin(31) is earning his keep guarding the cage for affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack going 7-2-3-1 with a tied for third best in the league 2.06 GAA and .927 SV% in 12 AHL games.
The 6’2″ 182 lbs. backstop has played KHL games going back as far as the 2013/2014 season with Spartak Moskva.
He would play a few games in both leagues in the next session but officially turned pro a couple seasons later with 25 games for SKA-Neva St. Petersburg posting a VHL best 1.19 GAA and .954 SV%.
Parent club SKA St. Petersburg also recalled him for 7 games and he was even given Goaltender Of The Week honors.
In his next season, it’s hard to believe his 1.64 GAA and .934 SV% weren’t tops but he did win the 2017 Gagarin Cup with his club.
He next put up another solid outing while also winning Olympic gold with Team Russia and then in 2018/2019 before coming over had a 2nd time league leading 1.11 GAA and .953 SV%.
The already 23-year old looks to be the future of the net for the Blueshirts.