New York Rangers Goalie Options Following Igor Shesterkin Injury

The New York Rangers announced that goaltender Igor Shesterkin will miss the rest of the season after suffering an injury in the second period against the Washington Capitals.

Awful news. New York Rangers announce Igor Shesterkin is done for the rest of the season #nyr

— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) October 10, 2026

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Shesterkin knew immediately that something was wrong when he dropped his blocker to the ice. They helped him off the ice because he couldn’t put any weight on his right leg, and Dylan Garand came in. The Rangers are not saying what Shesterkin’s injury is, but it is serious enough for him to miss the rest of the season.

This is the second straight season Igor Shesterkin has been injured. Last year, he missed 13 games after sustaining a lower-body injury in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on January 5th, 2026, at Madison Square Garden.

This time, the New York Rangers don’t have Jonathan Quick to take over as starter. Quick is enjoying retirement and serves as the organization’s director of goalie development. Joonas Korpisalo, who they traded for from the Boston Bruins, remains out of the lineup for another four weeks with an injury.

Spencer Martin, who has been out with an injury, is cleared to play and is expected to be recalled. But being able to play and playing are two different things. So the New York Rangers need a goalie, with Dylan Garand taking over as the starter.  He is the number one, with Callum Tung backing him up.

?Night Cap Recap ?

Igor Shesterkin Done for the Season #nyr https://t.co/E73BFsTmTX

— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) October 10, 2026

Speculation will swirl around the Rangers’ options and who they can pick up.

As soon as the news broke that Shesterkin was out for the season, everyone pointed to Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck makes sense in theory, but reality is another story. The math needs to add up, and it doesn’t.

Hellebuyck has five years left on his deal with an $8.5 million AAV. Igor Shesterkin has six years left at $11.5 million AAV. So that’s $20 million for goalies. So basic math says New York Rangers General Manager Chris Drury isn’t doing that.

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Could the Rangers trade for Hellebuyck for one season and go all-in, since they feel they can make the playoffs and go on a run? Even with Hellebuyck being part of Team USA at Four Nations and the Olympics, it’s still highly unlikely under Mike Sullivan.

We know Hellebuyck wants to go to a team he believes can win in the next three years. He believes he’s still in his prime. So it would be risky for the Rangers. They’d have to give up assets to get Connor Hellebuyck and then try to recoup them in the offseason when his 10-team no-trade clause goes into effect.

However, not sure it is the wisest move for the Rangers to do that given Igor Shesterkin will be back next season. If so, the Rangers can look at cheaper options. Again, they can go the waiver route and claim someone to bridge the gap until Korpisalo and Martin are healthy enough to be the backups

As with the New York Giants when Jaxson Dart went down to injury, the New York Rangers just can’t throw the rest of the season because Shesterkin is hurt. The Giants were immediately on the phone looking for a potential starter or backup to Jameis Winston. Similarly here with the Rangers.

So you look to guys on expiring deals who will be unrestricted free agents on July 1st:

Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues ($6 million AAV), Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings ($5.25 million AAV), John Gibson of the Detroit Red Wings ($6.4 million AAV). What if Devon Levi works out in Edmonton? Is Frederik Andersen in play?

Now the Rangers could also look at other options like Mackenzie Blackwood with the Colorado Avalanche, Vitek Vanecek of the New York Islanders, David Rittich of the New Jersey Devils, and Filip Gustavsson (still out with an injury) with the Minnesota Wild.

Again, Drury might want to steer clear of guys like Gibson, Andersen, and Gustavsson because of their injury history. Again, Elvis Merzlikins of the Toronto Maple Leafs is an option, but he is out after shoulder surgery, so again another guy with injury history.

The free-agent wire has options like James Reimer, Petr Mrazek, Matt Murray, and others to fill the void until Korpisalo is back.

Regardless, the New York Rangers can’t throw in the towel on their season. Too much of the season remains to not add another goalie and help keep the ship afloat. Remember, the Vegas Golden Knights went through eight goalies in their first year.

If the New York Rangers believe they can be a playoff team, they need to stabilize the goalie position to get through this season. Options are out there, so it will be interesting to see which direction they go.

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