Igor Shesterkin
Shesterkin is done for 2026-27: the Rangers announced he is out for the season with a right knee injury, and he should not be counted on for any games.
Role
He has no playing role this season. Dylan Garand took over as the starter after the injury, and the Yahoo report dated 2 November says he started seven consecutive games. A Sportskeeda piece from the same day has Garand at 4-6-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .897 save percentage through 11 appearances. Joonas Korpisalo, the veteran backup, went on injured reserve after opening night and has resumed practicing, so he could return soon. Whether he takes starts from Garand has not been reported.
The optimists have little to argue for this season. Their case is that he was excellent before the injury. ESPN had him 3-1 with a 1.79 GAA, and Yahoo put his save percentage at .926 going into the Oct. 9 game. Sullivan said on 2 November that he is doing great, as well as expected. The injury is a lost year, not a sign of decline.
The knee needs surgery and a lengthy rehab, per The Athletic's Vince Z. Mercogliano, and that is why the Rangers do not expect him back this season. It is also his second lower-body injury in two seasons. ESPN noted he missed a month last season with one, and NHL.com put it at 13 games. Neither the team nor Sullivan has given the specific diagnosis, and no recovery timeline is public.
Where analysts split
Broad agreement that he is out for the season. The open question is who replaces him: whether Garand keeps the bulk of the starts once Korpisalo returns, and whether the Rangers add outside help. ESPN reported that Jonathan Quick, now the director of goaltender development, could be a possibility if asked, though he remains committed to retirement. I did not find a source on whether Garand or Korpisalo will start more once Korpisalo is healthy.
Injury: IR: assessed avoid
Season-ending right knee surgery
Report explicitly states the injury is season-ending and requires surgery and lengthy rehab; he is out for the entire season and not rosterable in fantasy.
What would change this: Any update on recovery timeline relative to next season
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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