Examining Igor Shesterkin’s Case for Hockey Hall of Fame

What more does Igor Shesterkin have to do to be on the Hall of Fame trajectory?

Mar 22, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) warms up before a game against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There has been a lot of debate about the odds of the New York Rangers getting back into the Eastern Conference playoffs.

They have missed two years in a row after making franchise history with 55 victories and 114 points in the 2023-24 campaign, earning the Presidents’ Trophy. Their run in the postseason came to an end in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers.

If they are going to make it back to the playoffs, a lot has to go right for the team. However, they do have an edge that very few teams can match in the form of goalie Igor Shesterkin. He remains one of the best in the NHL between the pipes and has shown no signs of slowing down.

Turning 31 years old on December 30, he has five seasons of being a full-time NHLer under his belt and 325 games in total, with 320 of them being starts. There is still plenty of excellent hockey ahead for Shesterkin, who could put himself on a Hall of Fame path.

Is Igor Shesterkin on a Hall of Fame track?

Apr 11, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) faces the Dallas Stars attack during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Over at The Athletic (subscription required), Peter Baugh and Max Bultman put together Hall of Fame tiers for players in the league heading into the 2026-27 season. There were six tiers created: They could retire today and make it, Probably in — and still rising, Keep compiling, Outside shots, On track and Check back in a few years.

Shesterkin landed in the “Check back in a few years” tier, and it is easy to see why. Thus far, there are accomplishments on his resume that would put him on the path to becoming a Hall of Fame-caliber player, which is why they did consider bumping him up into the “On track” tier.

For the 2021-22 season, Sheterkin won the Vezina Trophy, given to the best goaltender in the league. There are two All-Star Game nominations on his resume, and he finished in the top 10 the last two years when there wasn’t a game played.

However, to be a lock for the next tier, Baugh and Bultman were right to write that Shesterkin needs at least one more season of elite production, finishing near the top of the Vezina Trophy voting, to secure a spot in the “On track” tier.

The 2023-24 season is the only other time he has a top-five finish, when he came in fourth place behind Connor Hellebuyck of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers.

There is also the case of no one truly knowing what the Hall of Fame committee is looking for when it comes to goalies. However, the recent string of inductees certainly increases the odds of someone such as Shesterkin being able to get in down the line.

One of the lone bright spots for the Rangers last season, Shesterkin battled injury and still went 25-19-6 for a team that finished in last place in the Eastern Conference with 77 points. He ranked among the top seven in several statistics, producing a .912 save percentage and 2.50 goals-against average, which is slightly better than his career number of 2.52.

Another season like that and he could be back in the top-five of the Vezina Trophy voting, especially if New York is back in the playoff picture. If they are competing for a spot in the postseason, Shesterkin almost certainly is a major reason why.