Daily News Latest trending news
The New York Rangers may no longer rather be within the Stanley Cup playoff image, however they seem to have themselves a goalie controversy. Henrik Lundqvist‘s sluggish decline blended with the emergence of younger backup Alexandar Georgiev and the call-up of gifted prospect Igor Shesterkin has left them with some selections to make within the coming weeks.
The Rangers have tried to get every of the 3 goaltenders their percentage of time within the crease, however for the primary time because the mid-2000s, Lundqvist is losing begins. One of the crucial easiest, if no longer the easiest, NHL goalies of the previous 15 years, Lundqvist has been lowered to 2 begins within the workforce’s previous 11 video games. So what now?
Our NHL workforce — Emily Kaplan, Greg Wyshynski and Chris Peters — solutions the most important questions on what lies forward in New York’s crease.
Wait, the Rangers in reality have a goalie conundrum with Lundqvist nonetheless within the image?
Emily Kaplan, nationwide NHL reporter: Lundqvist has been the Rangers’ beginning goaltender for the previous 15 years. However with the 37-year-old taking a look on the again finish of his occupation, the Rangers are in search of a succession plan. Over the last two years, the Blueshirts had been giving a bigger workload to Lundqvist’s backup, the 23-year-old Georgiev. It was once a superb — and commonplace — association. However on Jan. 6, the workforce shocked everybody by means of additionally calling up its best goaltending prospect, Shesterkin, 24, who has lengthy been tabbed as Lundqvist’s inheritor obvious. And now the Rangers are in a pickle.
OK, however is Lundqvist nonetheless the No. 1?
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL creator: The numbers let us know he is not. With 34 video games left within the season, Lundqvist has began 23 video games. At this present tempo, he may just finally end up with fewer than 40 begins for the primary time in his occupation. Since Dec. 2, Lundqvist has began 8 video games. Georgiev has began 11 video games, and Shesterkin has began 3 of them. If we are being beneficiant, perhaps this may well be learn as Lundqvist being a co-starter with the more youthful goalies. However it is transparent that Hank is not eclipsing the output of his crease-mates like in earlier seasons.
Who has been essentially the most spectacular goalie in New York this season?
Wyshynski: Georgiev has been the Rangers’ easiest goaltender, however the margin is slightly skinny. He has a objectives stored above moderate according to 60 mins of zero.296, simply forward of Lundqvist (zero.283). They are mainly tied in wins above moderate. Georgiev’s even-strength save proportion is .910 to Lundqvist’s .907, neither of them being all that excellent. The place Georgiev is somewhat more potent is in high quality get started proportion at 59.1 to Lundqvist’s 52.2 — which will be the lowest such determine of The King’s occupation. (Stats by means of Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey.)
Is there a get advantages to the use of 3 goaltenders?
Wyshynski: Whats up, the extra the merrier, as they are saying. We will get into all types of discussions about load control with a three-headed monster in purpose. However the speedy advantages are the hope that this sort of goalies can catch fireplace for a few weeks, both to get the Rangers again within the playoff hunt or as an audition for different groups forward of the business time limit. However on the subject of Shesterkin, it is most probably easiest to have him round and get him acclimated to NHL lifestyles because the goalie of the next day to come. (He was once despatched all the way down to the AHL forward of the NHL All-Big name Sport to get him extra enjoying time all the way through the damage, however he’s prone to be proper again up with the massive league membership quickly.)
Who’s the perhaps to be dealt in different places?
Kaplan: Georgiev. Shesterkin is not going any place. And whilst the Rangers may love to business Lundqvist and cross with the 2 more youthful guys, that’d be beautiful difficult (extra on that later). However Georgiev is on his entry-level deal (making best $792,500 towards the cap) and is below workforce keep an eye on (he is a limited loose agent this summer time). Plus, his business worth hasn’t ever been upper. The Rangers are most likely in search of a first-round pick out in go back.
Is there a business spouse for Georgiev?
Kaplan: The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly have hobby, and that may make numerous sense taking into consideration their well-documented seek for a reliable No. 2 at the back of Frederik Andersen. The San Jose Sharks is usually a darkish horse contender, too, taking into consideration how terrible their goaltending has been.
May Lundqvist all at once make a decision to waive his no-movement clause?
Kaplan: He may just, however to this point in his occupation, he has proven completely no want to. Lundqvist is a participant who likes dwelling in New York, likes enjoying in New York and would like to finish his occupation enjoying best in New York. He has already toughed it out for the worst portions of the rebuild and wish to see it thru.
OK, however despite the fact that he did, is there a workforce that is smart for Lundqvist?
Wyshynski: Assuming that Lundqvist desires to win a Stanley Cup anywhere he’d theoretically cross, it is value not anything that lots of this season’s contenders have already got two forged goaltenders. The Tampa Bay Lightning or Vegas Golden Knights may love Hank as a backup insurance plans to Andrei Vasilevskiy and Marc-Andre Fleury, respectively — and a man with an excellent Sport 7 monitor report, in addition — however they might slightly make the budget paintings now, let on my own subsequent season. Lundqvist most probably is not fascinated about shifting to Alberta, however the Edmonton Oilers can be an intriguing have compatibility.
And if it is not in regards to the Cup however extra about staying native with the risk to play? How about going throughout the Lincoln Tunnel and splitting time with Mackenzie Blackwood for the following season and alter with the New Jersey Devils?
May the Rangers simply stay all 3 goalies?
Wyshynski: May, sure — within the sense that they may have to take action. As Emily famous, Lundqvist has keep an eye on over business locations and his no-move clause does not give the Rangers any room to strong-arm him with demotions to the AHL or some such, even though we doubt they would have the urge for food to do this anyway. The cost tag on Georgiev stays top, and the Rangers may see him as a extra necessary a part of their long run than as a business possibility. Once more, take a look at the contenders this season and spot what number of have two viable choices in purpose.
Regardless, Shesterkin seems to be the man of the longer term, proper?
Chris Peters, hockey possibilities analyst: A few month ahead of Shesterkin was once known as up, one Japanese Convention goalie scout instructed me he concept the younger Russian was once the most productive goalie in New York’s gadget at that second — and that incorporated Lundqvist. It gave the impression daring however plausible on the identical time. I had him because the No. 58 total prospect entering the season, moment amongst all goalies at the back of best Florida’s Spencer Knight (No. 51) and forward of Washington’s Ilya Samsonov (No. 67). I all the time hedge far more on goaltenders in total scores, particularly the ones from in another country, but when they finally end up in my preseason best 100, this is because I feel they have got No. 1 doable.
What makes Shesterkin so excellent?
Peters: In my opinion, he has showcased No. 1 upside in every of his post-draft seasons, shining brightly for membership and nation for every of the previous 5 seasons whilst posting nice numbers. Shesterkin is slightly beneath moderate on the subject of measurement however no longer dramatically so. Past that, there are not loads of weaknesses. He has that excellent mixture of methodology and velocity, he assists in keeping issues below keep an eye on and he’s going to do anything else to make a save. There isn’t numerous wasted actions with him, and he simply flat out competes.
After seeing him set up the transition to North The united states’s smaller rinks, the AHL’s tempo and a weaker protection in entrance of him, any skepticism I had was once swept away. Throw in his early NHL begins, and there may be merely no degree too large for this younger goalie. Maximum indicators level to him being an excessively succesful inheritor to Lundqvist quicker than later.
So how does this three-man combat for ice time unravel itself?
Kaplan: The Rangers will discover a appropriate business spouse for Georgiev by means of the draft in June — perhaps they do not get a first-round pick out, however they’re going to get a good go back — and Lundqvist and Shesterkin elevate on subsequent season because the tandem.
Wyshynski: Agreed, even though I do suppose there is a likelihood Georgiev will get moved on the business time limit this season. The issue for GM Jeff Gorton is getting the cost he is in search of. Have a look at the latest understudy traded on the draft: Philipp Grubauer went for a second-round pick out in 2018, even though that worth was once suffering from Brooks Orpik‘s contract being despatched at the side of him to Colorado. And he was once 3 years older and extra established than Georgiev.
Who begins essentially the most video games the remainder of the best way, and who’s the No. 1 goalie for 2020-21?
Kaplan: Shesterkin performs essentially the most video games the remainder of the best way, and he and Lundqvist will cut up begins subsequent season.
Wyshynski: I nonetheless suppose Lundqvist finally ends up getting essentially the most begins for the following 3 months — however by means of a slender margin. However Shesterkin leads the workforce subsequent season.
Peters: So long as Georgiev is there and wholesome, he will have to be getting the majority of the begins with Shesterkin enjoying ceaselessly within the AHL. Then 2020-21 is a platoon season for Shesterkin and Lundqvist, with the more youthful goalie getting at least part the begins.
