Igor Shesterkin Ruled Out for the Remainder of the 2026-27 Season
The New York Rangers received devastating news on Saturday: star goaltender Igor Shesterkin is out for the remainder of the 2026-27 season with a lower-body injury.
Shesterkin went down in the second period of Friday night’s 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. On a power play, he appeared to jam his right skate into the post while scrambling back into the crease. His right leg bent awkwardly beneath him as he fell. He stayed down for several minutes, then had to be helped off the ice by teammates without putting any weight on the leg. He did not return, and backup Dylan Garand finished the game.
After further evaluation, the Rangers informed reporters (including Peter Baugh of The Athletic) that the injury is season-ending. Shesterkin, 30, had been off to a strong start, posting roughly a 1.75–1.79 goals-against average and a .926–.927 save percentage through five appearances while also scoring his first career NHL goal. Career-wise, he owns a 2.51 GAA and .917 save percentage over more than 330 games and carries the league’s highest goalie cap hit at approximately $11.57 million.
Coach Mike Sullivan called the injury “concerning” after Friday’s game, noting Shesterkin’s importance as an elite netminder. Captain J.T. Miller described him as “a pillar of this team,” adding that seeing him leave was a shock and that the group would need to step up.
The Rangers are also dealing with other injuries: backup Joonas Korpisalo is expected to miss another four weeks with a lower-body issue, and center Joe Veleno is out three to three-and-a-half months. With Shesterkin’s season over, New York is expected to place him on long-term injured reserve, which should free up nearly his full cap hit for roster flexibility. Given the team’s tight cap situation and the length of Shesterkin’s contract (through 2032-33), general manager Chris Drury is likely to look at short-term goaltending options.
This is a massive early-season blow for a Rangers squad that had started solidly and was coming off a four-game winning streak before Friday’s loss. Replacing a Vezina-caliber goaltender of Shesterkin’s caliber midseason is extremely difficult, and the team will now lean heavily on younger options like Garand while exploring additional depth.
This story will be updated
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