NEW YORK, May 10, 2022 – New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, the National Hockey League announced today. The winners of the 2022 NHL Awards will be revealed during the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, with exact dates, format and times to be announced.
First awarded in 1926-27, the Vezina Trophy is presented annually “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position” and is voted on by the general managers of the NHL’s 32 teams. The other finalists for the award are Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom and Nashville’s Juuse Saros.
Shesterkin, 26, is the first Rangers goaltender since Henrik Lundqvist in 2012-13 to be named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. Lundqvist was a runner-up that season in his bid for back-to-back Vezina Trophy wins. If Shesterkin were to take home the award, he would become the sixth Ranger to do so and join Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12), John Vanbiesbrouck (1985-86), Ed Giacomin & Gilles Villemure (1970-71), and Dave Kerr (1939-40).
A Moscow, Russia native, Shesterkin posted a 36-13-4 record with a league-leading 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, joining Henrik Lundqvist (2012-13) as the only Rangers goalies to finish a season (min. 40 GP) leading the NHL in both save percentage and GAA.
Shesterkin’s .935 save percentage was THE highest single season save percentage in Rangers history among goaltenders who made 30 or more appearances. Among goaltenders who played 50 or more games, Shesterkin had the third highest save percentage in NHL history behind Tim Thomas (2010-11 – .938) and Dominik Hasek (1998-99 – .937). Both Thomas and Hasek won the Vezina Trophy in those seasons.
Among NHL goaltenders in 2021-22, Shesterkin’s 36 wins ranked sixth and his six shutouts ranked third. His 36 wins were tied for the seventh most by a Rangers goaltender in a single season throughout team history.
In addition, Shesterkin had a .900 save percentage in 75 percent of his starts this season, the highest rate in the NHL (min. 20 starts).
For his efforts in 2021-22, Shesterkin was named the Rangers’ Most Valuable Player, which is voted on by members of the New York Rangers media and has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1941-42 season.