Rangers find unlikely replacement for Igor Shesterkin
Photo credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
The Rangers have a massive hole between the pipes, and the possible fix is a name nobody saw coming. With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, New York is preparing to search for goaltending reinforcements, and Jonathan Quick is reportedly on the radar.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports the club is expected to look at outside options, and that Quick, 40, is enjoying life after hockey while working as the team's Director of Goaltending Development.
Still, she noted that “if the Rangers asked him to play, sources believe he could be a possibility.”
Why Quick Makes Sense
Quick already knows the room, the systems and the young goaltenders who would be sharing the crease with him. He wore a Rangers sweater in recent years, so there would be no learning curve.
A three-time Stanley Cup winner and former Conn Smythe Trophy recipient also brings playoff experience that few available netminders can match.
Quick would not be asked to replicate what Shesterkin does. The goal would be stability, a steady veteran presence that keeps the team afloat in the standings while the front office sorts out its longer term plans.
He could also mentor the other goaltenders, which fits the work he already does behind the scenes.
The Risks of a Comeback
Of course, this is far from a done deal. Quick is comfortable away from the game, and returning after time off is a serious physical ask for any goalie.
Rust is a real concern, and the Rangers cannot afford to hand a crucial job to someone who is not game ready.
A comeback would depend on whether he wants one, and nothing suggests he is chasing it.
The front office will explore trades and free agents as well, so Quick may be nothing more than a fallback plan.
But the fact that his name is being mentioned says plenty about how thin the market is for a team in need. Rangers fans should watch closely, because the answer to this goalie question could shape the season on Broadway.
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