How Igor-mania swept New York

New York has seen athletes similar Igor Shesterkin before. They travel to the metropolis heralded by years of hype. Their accomplishment marks a caller epoch for their teams. Unfortunately, these young stars get chewed up and spit retired by an unrelenting, impatient monster of a market. But some, similar Shesterkin, transcend those expectations, enchant the metropolis and go sensations.

Which is why, aft conscionable 108 vocation NHL games, "Igor-mania" is moving chaotic successful NYC.

The 26-year-old was the NHL's apical goaltender past season, winning the Vezina Trophy and finishing 3rd successful the MVP race. He has go the astir fashionable subordinate of the New York Rangers, contempt playing lone 4 seasons. He has rapidly entered that pantheon of elite New York sports stars, sliding into the spot vacated by Henrik Lundqvist -- 1 icon comfortably taking implicit for another, similar the Mario Lemieux epoch fading into the Sidney Crosby years successful Pittsburgh.

"I americium amazed that you tin spell from the Garden chanting 'Hen-rik' to 'I-gor.' He's arsenic bully arsenic advertised," Mike Richter told maine this week.

Richter is 2nd to Lundqvist successful wins and games played arsenic a Ranger but cemented his bequest by breaking a 54-year curse for the franchise successful back-stopping them to the 1994 Stanley Cup championship. His fig hangs from the Madison Square Garden rafters, close adjacent to Lundqvist's. Perhaps the lone flaw successful his vocation was that helium didn't person a chantable archetypal name.

"Yeah, you request that 2 syllable thing," helium said, with a laugh. "They went with 'Rich-ter.' It was fine. I'll instrumentality anything."

They chanted "Ed-die!" and "Beez-er!" too. Perhaps it has been obscured by their deficiency of Stanley Cup occurrence -- 1 Stanley Cup since 1940, arsenic immoderate Islanders oregon Devils instrumentality tin punctuation from representation -- but the Rangers person 1 of the NHL's strongest goaltending legacies.

Starting successful 1953, the Gump Worsley epoch led to the Ed Giacomin era; John Davidson was the span to the John Vanbiesbrouck era, which overlapped with the Richter era; Richter retired successful 2003, and Lundqvist arrived successful 2006; Lundqvist's past play with the Rangers was 2020, which is erstwhile Shesterkin arrived.

"Different personalities and antithetic styles, but the communal denominator is that we're each competitors," Richter said. "I deliberation it's a testament to however bully their drafting is. You know, you don't propulsion Henrik Lundqvist retired of the seventh circular without doing a small homework. Sometimes you get lucky, but there's a signifier there."

Richter spent each 14 years of his NHL vocation with the Rangers. He has been successful Shesterkin's skates earlier arsenic a highly hyped novice goalie, finishing 3rd successful the Vezina voting arsenic a rookie successful 1990-91.

"Sometimes there's an eyeroll astir however overmuch media sum determination is for New York teams. But with that comes a batch of challenges," helium said. "That's portion of the benignant of bargain of playing successful New York. And I wouldn't person it immoderate different way.

"I cognize tons of athletes are hesitant to travel to New York. Once they do, they admit what an unthinkable spot it is to play and to live. And that the people, you know, amazingly don't devour their babies oregon whatever. These are large radical that person a batch of request of their teams and are passionate. Good oregon bad, they're going to fto you cognize however they feel."

So far, it has been a honeymoon for Shesterkin successful New York. He earned his "I-gor!" chants by winning 68 of his archetypal 108 NHL games. His .935 prevention percent and 2.07 goals-against mean past play led the NHL en way to the Vezina. He followed that with a playoff show that dragged the Rangers to the Eastern Conference finals, with a .929 prevention percentage.

"He stole immoderate games past twelvemonth that we had nary concern being in," Rangers guardant Ryan Reaves told me. "You request a goalie similar that for heavy playoff runs."

Reaves played 4 years with Marc-Andre Fleury and said Shesterkin is "up determination with him" erstwhile it comes to those mind-boggling saves you spot erstwhile they're locked into a game. He said that effort starts good earlier those games.

"I ever accidental that you've got a bully goalie erstwhile he's battling connected 2nd and 3rd pucks successful practice," Reaves said. "I've played with goalies wherever you instrumentality the archetypal shot, the rebound goes successful beforehand and helium truly doesn't care. Shesty volition battle. I deliberation that's wherefore he's truthful good. He treats each puck similar it's ne'er going successful his net."

If there's 1 communal rejoinder astir Shesterkin from his Rangers teammates, it's that competitory fire. Good goalies don't privation opponents to people connected them. Elite goalies genuinely judge that opponents ne'er should.

"He does instrumentality it personally," Reaves said.

The Rangers person learned to unrecorded with that intensity. There's a Jekyll and Hyde facet to Shesterkin, based connected whether oregon not he's playing.

"Depends connected the day, I guess," Reeves said, smiling. "No, he's a large guy. It's conscionable connected crippled days, he's decidedly quiet. He's a goalie that needs to focus. Don't speech to him. Stay retired of his way. Don't beryllium yelling astatine him oregon thing similar that. Unless you're releasing him."

Reaves is referring to a ritual built astir Shesterkin arsenic the Rangers are acceptable to deed the ice. It was a spot the seasoned winger started successful Vegas that helium carried implicit to New York. Shesterkin stands successful beforehand of his teammates arsenic they hold wrong the locker country hallway. Reaves past screams, "SHESTY: RELEASE USSSSSSSS!" and the goalie leads the Rangers to the rink.

Whoops 🤣 pic.twitter.com/unzjycmpuZ

Naturally, it has inspired its ain T-shirt.

"Igor-mania" isn't conscionable astir his stats. It has besides been sparked by the panache with which helium plays and the inherent goofiness helium inspires from teammates.

"He's awesome. His property is awesome successful and astir the rink," defenseman K'Andre Miller said. "He's a quiescent feline evidently -- doesn't talk that overmuch English. But he's opened up a bully magnitude the past mates of years."

Miller said the connection obstruction -- Shesterkin's English has improved, but helium inactive uses a team-provided interpreter -- marque him much endearing.

"I deliberation that adds to his goofiness, not knowing those societal cues oregon a mates of words," helium said.

For defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who has played with Shesterkin successful the Rangers enactment since the goalie arrived successful North America, Shesterkin's bully quality has allowed him to thrive successful a hard market.

"It's a large happening for goalies. Don't overstress. Be large connected crippled days, and connected disconnected days, you fto it go," helium said. "There's a batch of unit being a goalie and past playing successful New York arsenic well. That's wherefore it's bully that he's having fun, not putting excessively overmuch unit connected himself."

But property didn't chiefly marque Shesterkin a star. Don La Greca, co-host of "The Michael Kay Show" connected ESPN Radio successful New York, draws a examination with different section jock successful that regard: New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom.

"I don't judge their personalities made them stars," La Greca told me. "Both did it with their play. Both went from zero to 60 successful a millisecond. Both did good successful the postseason aboriginal successful their careers."

I asked La Greca however Shesterkin mightiness surpass the accomplishments of Richter and Lundqvist, the 2 champion Rangers goalies of the past 30 years.

"He has to win. Richter got the Cup. Hank had his looks and enactment on with his play to triumph radical over," La Greca said. "However, different mode for Igor is his play with the puck. Mark my words: He volition people a goal."

Hopefully helium does, and hopefully it happens astatine the Garden. In afloat disclosure, I was infected by "Igor-mania" portion covering the Rangers' playoff tally past season. I'd enactment him close determination with Connor McDavid, Cale Makar and Alex Ovechkin arsenic players I'd wage to ticker for their sheer amusement value. It's the mode helium makes those saves. It's the mode helium handles the puck. It's each the things that gain him those "I-gor!" chants echoing done the rafters wherever galore of his predecessors successful the Rangers' crease person their numbers hanging.

You tin consciousness it erstwhile an jock has forged a enslaved with New York City. When they're connected a first-name ground with fans. When everyone knows that arsenic agelong arsenic they're successful the lineup, bully things are possible.

"You spell into each crippled knowing that you person a shot," Reaves said. "If you're successful the mediate of the crippled and he's getting shelled and the boys don't person it that night, past you're like, 'OK, we've gotta prime it up. But Shesty's got america close now.'"

And New York's got "Igor-mania" close now, too.

Jersey Foul of the week

From Jeff Veillette:

I conjecture they couldn't determine pic.twitter.com/WsaQCx68nV

This P.K. Subban nameplate with a Carey Price fig mightiness beryllium a confusing foul. But fixed their choky relationship arsenic Montreal Canadiens teammates -- retrieve the triple low-five? -- possibly this is simply a tribute jersey to the duo's bequest for the bleu, blanc et rouge.

Video of the Week

the PAUSE connected "father" 💀 pic.twitter.com/JdG7g1Roq0

If you're not acquainted with the Paul Marner discourse, he's the begetter of Toronto Maple Leafs prima Mitch Marner and has been a subordinate successful respective Toronto media quality cycles.

In 2018, he spoke with The Athletic astir Mitch and said, "It drives our household nuts erstwhile we perceive you guys each speech astir who should beryllium the skipper of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mitch ne'er hardly gets immoderate consideration," portion comparing his on-ice temperament to that of Hockey Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour.

He was prominently mentioned by fans during Mitch Marner's declaration talks with the Leafs, arsenic they believed helium was feeding accusation to section media.

With that context, I loved this speech from Mitch Marner connected Tuesday, arsenic the Leafs continued to struggle. When asked if friends and household cognize not to inundate the players with what has been said astir them successful the media, Marner said, "None of america truly benignant of work it. ... I mean, I conjecture my begetter does."

This video demands a 40-minute podcast by science and assemblage connection experts, immediately.

Winners and losers of the week

Winner: Erik Karlsson

It mightiness not past and it's astir 3 years excessively precocious for the San Jose Sharks, but it's truly awesome to spot Karlsson playing astatine his Norris Trophy-level, point-per-game dominance again.

Jeff Marek asked maine during a vigor hit if Karlsson is simply a Hall of Famer. He had a six-year stretch that was Hall of Fame-worthy. As Eric Lindros showed, that mightiness beryllium each you request to gain your plaque.

Loser: St. Louis Blues

GM Doug Armstrong felt the request to reply for his team's 3-5-0 start, which has inexplicably seen the NHL's third-best scoring squad from past play (3.77 goals per game) go the NHL's worst-scoring squad this play (2.38). Ryan O'Reilly has 1 constituent successful 8 games -- deliberation helium misses David Perron? Jordan Kyrou has 3 goals but has gone scoreless successful six of 8 games and is simply a minus-13.

The Western Conference is excessively bully to stumble astir for excessively long. See also: Predators, Nashville.

Winner: Lindy Ruff

Has a manager ever gone from having fans chanting for his firing astatine the commencement of the play to being a Jack Adams Award finalist by the extremity of the season? Because if the New Jersey Devils support rolling, that could beryllium Ruff's communicative for 2022-23.

Loser: Barry Trotz's intentions

Trotz fto it beryllium known that helium would beryllium unfastened to a instrumentality to coaching by December and told the "Cam and Strick" podcast that helium would beryllium funny successful coaching an Original Six team. Given that 4 of those six person first-year caput coaches and the Rangers person Gerard Gallant. ... Well, needless to say, Trotz sent Toronto into a tizzy.

He clarified his comments with Bob McCown, saying that helium conscionable ne'er had the accidental to manager an Original Six squad earlier and that it wasn't a Toronto-specific comment.

Which meant helium forgot the No. 1 regularisation successful hockey media: Everything is astir the Leafs.

Winner: Boston Bruins Winter Classic logo

The wordmark is chill and unique. But arsenic galore Boston fans told me, the crushed to observe this Fenway Classic logo is the instrumentality of ... ahem ... "meth bear."

Loser: Pittsburgh Penguins Winter Classic logo

While I respect the past down utilizing the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates logo arsenic inspiration for the Penguins, their erstwhile outdoor crippled jerseys person featured a tiny penguin successful a small scarf. Anything other is simply a letdown.

Winner: Mullett Arena

Say what you volition astir the impermanent location of the Arizona Coyotes -- a assemblage hockey arena connected the field of Arizona State University -- but each the players who person competed determination rave astir the prime of the ice and the liveliness of the boards. "The crystal was great. It was unbelievable. Even for warm-ups. It was awesome," Winnipeg's Cole Perfetti said.

Loser: Remaining astatine Mullett Arena

With the Tempe arena contented apt headed to the voters aft the metropolis council, and with the specter of imaginable litigation ever looming, it's looking similar the Coyotes are going to person to prime up that optional 4th twelvemonth successful a assemblage arena. Which is rough.

Puck headlines

• The Sportico NHL franchise valuations were an absorbing read. There are 10 teams valued astatine implicit a cardinal dollars. I would not person expected the Jets to beryllium much invaluable than 10 different NHL teams, but present we are.

• John Tortorella has Sheldon Keefe's back against the Toronto media: "I anticipation helium jams it to you all, rather honestly." Ouch!

• What is going on with Shane Wright and the Seattle Kraken? "Given Wright's main obstacle seems his deficiency of acquisition facing afloat grown men, it's pugnacious to spot however different play against players mostly 19 and nether would assistance his development."

• Good portion by Stephen Whyno connected how Bruce Boudreau has adapted done the years arsenic an NHL caput coach.

• Getting to know PHF MVP Kennedy Marchment of the Connecticut Whale.

• The Ottawa Senators are for sale, and the LeBreton Flats arena task holds the cardinal to their future.

• Really liked this piece connected the existent authorities of the Maple Leafs. "I can't retrieve the past clip I looked guardant to watching this team. I inactive bash watch, and sometimes I don't adjacent extremity up regretting it. But these days, with this squad and its history, it feels similar a slog. It's duty, oregon unit of habit. The wins don't substance and the losses each blend together, truthful what are we doing here?"

• How the Vancouver Canucks snagged Cobie Smulders for their pregame hype video. This reminds america of our favourite "How I Met Your Mother" moment, erstwhile Robin brags astir gathering Mason Raymond and Barney proclaims is "the other of sanction dropping."

From your friends astatine ESPN

Yours genuinely and Arda Ocal person taken our preview amusement "The Drop" and turned it into a play YouTube streaming show. Check out our Phil Kessel celebration, Roman Josi interrogation and overmuch more.