“I don’t think anybody inside of our dressing room or inside of our organization takes [Shesterkin] for granted,” Sullivan said after the game, per NHL.com. “He’s a superstar goaltender in this league and he gives us a chance to win each and every night with the timely saves that he makes.”

Against the Panthers, Shesterkin did just that. Less than two years ago, these two sides were competing in an Eastern Conference Final. In 2026, they squared off in an authentic tank bowl in the NHL. In the end, New York’s goalie simply wanted the win more.

In addition to a 15-save performance in the first period, Shesterkin came up with clutch stops to stop any attempt of a comeback from Florida in its tracks. New York struck at the right times, but it was Shesterkin who put the Rangers in a position to even be in the game. Hadn’t it been for a fluke goal with less than a minute left in regulation, Shesterkin would have secured his second shutout of the campaign. Still, New York has no complaints about its goalie’s masterclass on home ice.

Rangers start Shesterkin night in and night out

With Jonathan Quick still sidelined with an upper-body injury and rookie Dylan Garand as the secondary option, Sullivan and the Rangers have barely given Shesterkin time to catch his breath in the 2025-26 NHL season. Shesterkin has missed some time of his own throughout the year, though.

As Shesterkin is fully healthy again and on a heater, it makes sense why New York wants to ride out the hot hand. The Russian netminder has been between the pipes in 7 of the Rangers’ last 10 outings. Shesterkin is 3-4-0 in his last seven starts.

What NY Rangers play for in last games of the season

The Rangers are gearing up for their last eight games of the season. The 2025–26 campaign has been a nightmare, and New York can finally see the finish line. With nothing left to play for and fans actually hoping for losses to improve their odds in the NHL Draft Lottery, Sullivan and the team’s mantra are quite the opposite. New York hopes to turn the tide—or at least start to do so—by stringing together strong outings and wins.

The Blueshirts are currently on a two-game winning streak and have won consecutive home games for the first time this season. Perhaps the sun is indeed coming out over the Manhattan skyline for the Rangers, but it’s all still a work in progress.

As the league gears up for the March 6 trade deadline, Sullivan put the Rangers on high alert with a bold message about trade rumors. However, he left Shesterkin out of that picture, as he made it abundantly clear that the Russian goalie is not going anywhere. It is not as if anyone truly believed Shesterkin could be on the move, but Sullivan made sure to leave no room for doubt.

“It’s comforting [to have Shesterkin], I’m not going to lie,” Mike Sullivan said, per NHL.com. “I think he’s the best goalie in the game. Just his compete level, he’s an elite player. So, it’s comforting to have him between the pipes.”

Shesterkin is not going anywhere. Instead, the Rangers will shop other intriguing assets—primarily players with expiring contracts or veterans who could be useful to Stanley Cup contenders, such as Vincent Trocheck, who is drawing strong interest across the NHL.

Could the Rangers trade Shesterkin?

In the NHL, anything can happen—both on the ice and in the front offices upstairs. However, the idea of New York trading away its best talent at a position as pivotal as goaltending makes a move involving Shesterkin unlikely—if not outright impossible.

Moreover, the Rangers’ netminder signed an eight-year, $92 million extension before the 2025–26 season. Why would New York move on from him just months after making Shesterkin the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history?

Even if it wanted to, Shesterkin’s contract includes a full no-movement clause (NMC), so unless the Russian is open to a change of scenery, a deal will not happen. As tough as the 2025–26 season has been for the Rangers, it has not been disastrous enough to warrant a blockbuster move involving Shesterkin. Quite frankly, nothing ever should.

In the 2024-25 NHL campaign, Drury sent a league-wide memo stating that New York was entertaining trade calls for key veterans. A year later, the Rangers have parted ways with some household names, yet remain stuck in the same square. Now, despite Miller making something clear to Sullivan and his teammates, changes are expected inside the locker room, and no one might be truly safe. Well, except for one star: Igor Shesterkin.

NHL on TNT’s panel recently discussed the drama in New York, with Anson Carter and Tuukka Rask suggesting Shesterkin is the only player the Rangers can’t trade. According to them, the Broadway Blueshirts should at least be open to offers on everyone else. That includes stars like Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad, as well as veterans like Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller.

Rangers with trade clauses

When there’s a will, there’s a way. If the Rangers truly want to trade any player on the roster, there’s usually a way to make it happen. That said, some players present taller hurdles to clear. As it stands, six Rangers carry full no-movement clauses this season: Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Igor Shesterkin.

Additionally, four others are under contracts with no-trade or modified no-trade clauses (M-NTC): Jonathan Quick (20-team no-trade list), Carson Soucy (12-team), William Borgen (no-trade clause, becomes M-NTC in 2026–27), and Vincent Trocheck (12-team).

Panarin is on his way out

For a team and organization that has struggled in almost every area of the game lately, Drury has seemingly found his bread and butter: his willingness to move any player if the price is right.

That strategy is now fueling trade buzz around Artemi Panarin. ‘The Breadman’ is playing on a contract year, and New York has made it clear it won’t be handing him a new deal after the 2025–26 season.

The Rangers won’t just sit idle until Panarin’s contract runs its course, either. Instead, the top priority in the Big Apple has shifted to finding a trade New York can live with—and one Panarin is willing to waive his full no-movement clause for.

The Rangers made significant moves midway through last season, such as the major contract extension signed with Shesterkin, the highest-paid goalie in the league. With Sullivan’s arrival, the team’s outlook is starting to shift.

Sullivan arrived in New York after a long ten-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This new stage includes an internal evaluation of the roster. While it’s easy to highlight players like Panarin or Shesterkin, the Rangers’ coach chose to focus on a defenseman who didn’t post the best numbers last season: Adam Fox.

Sullivan’s message for Fox

“I think Foxy knows he’s capable of playing better. He’s motivated by the opportunity to put forward a better version of himself. That’s not just good for the Rangers, but also for Team USA. He’s young, he’s not aging, and we believe he can take his game to the next level,” Sullivan said, according to NHL insider Michael Russo.

At the same time, Sullivan noted that Fox has the potential to elevate his game to “Norris Trophy caliber,” and the coaching staff is committed to supporting him in reaching that goal. After a season in which the 27-year-old defenseman didn’t perform as dominantly as expected, this statement positions him once again as a central piece of the Rangers’ defensive strength.

A new outlook for the Rangers

It’s positive for the team to have renewed expectations. The Rangers began the 2024‑25 season with high hopes, but things didn’t go as planned. New York finished with a 39‑36‑7 record and 85 points, placing fifth in the Metropolitan Division and eleventh in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs by six points. Now, a new future lies ahead.