Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin reveals the toughest shooters he's faced
This morning, a new interview surfaced with New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, where he revealed the toughest players to face in the NHL.
Igor Shesterkin has been one of the top goalies in the NHL for several years, often carrying the New York Rangers deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Given his success, one publication asked him to name the toughest players to go up against in the league, and he shared his top three choices.
Unsurprisingly, Shesterkin mentioned Sidney Crosby as one of the hardest players to face. Crosby has been one of the best players in the NHL for nearly 20 years.
Next on his list were two other superstar centers: Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Hughes. Despite playing in the Western Conference, MacKinnon has earned Shesterkin's respect. Hughes, from the New Jersey Devils, was a bit of a surprise but still made the cut.
All three players-Crosby, MacKinnon, and Hughes-are considered elite, with Crosby often being labeled a generational talent. What sets them apart is their combination of hockey IQ and skating ability, making them unpredictable on the ice.
Hearing a goalie's perspective on the best forwards in the NHL is always interesting. In recent seasons, Shesterkin's stats have slightly declined, from a 2.07 goals-against average in 2021-22 to a 2.58 in 2023-24. One might wonder if players like Crosby, Hughes, and MacKinnon have started to figure out his tendencies.
As the 2024-25 NHL season kicks off, it will be fascinating to watch Shesterkin and the Rangers as they aim for another deep playoff run-and see how he fares against the players he considers the best in the league.
Source: Hockey FeedIgor Shesterkin reveals toughest opponents he's faced
Source: HockeyDBIgor Shesterkin Stats
| POLL | ||
11 AOUT | 66 ANSWERS Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin reveals the toughest shooters he's faced Which player do you think would be the most difficult to face as a goaltender? | ||
| Auston Matthews | 16 | 24.2 % |
| Nathan Mackinnon | 33 | 50 % |
| Jack Hughes | 6 | 9.1 % |
| Other | 11 | 16.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
