Igor Shesterkin is the winner of the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy.
Shesterkin finished with 29 first place votes and three second place votes.
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In his acceptance speech, Shesterkin said “It’s a great honor for me to be here and also want to say to Juuse Sarros and Markstrom you are incredible goalies and could easily be standing here now. I have many people to thank, my teammates. I share this award with our team. It’s good to play with the Rangers, incredible feelings. I want to thank our coaches for believing in me and a special thanks to Benoit Allaire. The whole Rangers organization, it has been amazing to be part of the Rangers family. I’d like to thank all Ranger fans, it was my dream to play in the NHL and to play in front of you and at MSG, incredible feelings. To my friends, I wouldn’t be where I am without your love and guidance. To my beautiful wife for your support and the right words she always finds for me. Unfortunately she couldn’t be here tonight because we are having a baby soon, so what a year!”
From the NHL:
- A first-time Vezina Trophy finalist, Shesterkin is the third Rangers goaltender to win the Vezina under the current selection criteria (since 1981-82), joining Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12) and John Vanbiesbrouck (1985-86).
- Shesterkin posted a League-leading 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, helping the Rangers (52-24-6) reach 110 points, the third-highest total in franchise history. He recorded the seventh-best save percentage among all NHL goaltenders since the statistic was first officially recorded in 1955-56 (min. 25 GP) and became the second Rangers netminder to top the save percentage chart, following Gump Worsley in 1957-58. He went 36-13-4 with six shutouts in 52 appearances, recording his 30th win of the season in his 41st game – the fewest games required in franchise history.
- From the Rangers:
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been awarded the Vezina Trophy, given “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” as selected by NHL general managers. Shesterkin is the sixth Ranger to earn the honor, joining Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12), John Vanbiesbrouck (1985-86), Ed Giacomin & Gilles Villemure* (1970-71), and Dave Kerr (1939-40). *Of note, prior to 1981-82 the Vezina Trophy was given to the goaltender(s) of the team that allowed the fewest goals in the NHL – now that award is the William M. Jennings Trophy. - In 2021-22, Shesterkin, 26, led the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, while tallying a 36-13-4 record and six shutouts. He became the third goaltender in NHL history (min. 50 appearances) to post a save percentage of .935 or higher in a single season, joining Tim Thomas (2010-11 – .938) and Dominik Hasek (1998-99 – .937). Shesterkin’s 36 wins ranked sixth in the NHL and his six shutouts ranked third in the league.
- It is the 19th time in league history that a goaltender led the league in GAA, Save Percentage in his Vezina-winning season and first since Sergei Bobrovsky in 2016-17 with Columbus.
- Since 1981-82, when general managers started voting for the award, Shesterkin (100 GP) is the fifth goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy with 100 or fewer career games played, joining Tom Barrasso (1983-84 – 42 GP), Ron Hextall (1986-87 – 66 GP), Ed Belfour (1990-91 – 97 GP), and Jim Carey (1995-96 – 99 GP). Shesterkin won the award in his first season playing 50 or more games. He is the 16th goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy in their first season playing 50-plus games and first since Tuukka Rask (2013-14 – 58 GP).
- Shesterkin had a .900 save percentage in 75 percent of his starts this past season, the highest rate in the NHL (min. 20 starts). When facing 30-or-more shots in a game, Shesterkin was 24-7-2 in 2021-22 and when seeing 40-or-more shots, the goaltender was 4-0-0. A critical part of the Rangers penalty kill that ranked seventh in the NHL (82.3%) was Shesterkin recording a .929 save percentage when shorthanded, the second best in the league.
- In addition, Shesterkin became the fifth goaltender since 2002-03 to guide his team to the third round of the postseason in the same season he won the Vezina Trophy. The previous four goalies were Marc-Andre Fleury (2020-21- VGK), Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12 – NYR), Tim Thomas (2010-11 – BOS), and Martin Brodeur (2002-03 – NJD).
Adam Rotter: This was a lock and it would not be a surprise if Shesterkin is up there accepting this award again in the future.