Tretiak told why Shesterkin became the owner of the Vezina Trophy

President of the Russian Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretyak shared his opinion on why the Russian goalkeeper of the New York Rangers Igor Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy award (the best goalkeeper of the NHL regular season).

– I would like to congratulate Shesterkin on a great event in his life. Igor holds the mark of Russian goalkeeping art. Our fellows. (Tampa goaltender Andrey) Vasilevsky won the best player in the playoffs last year, and previously won the Vezina.

It is very difficult to win the Vezina Trophy, but it is even more difficult to receive an award for the second time. Therefore, the stability of Shesterkin and success in the next season. And congratulations!

A lot of work was done by Shesterkin, he showed a good result. Igor deserved his game. I want to say that the New York Rangers made their way so high, the merit of Shesterkin. Played very consistently throughout the season. Both clubs and goalkeeping coaches are involved in this success.

The FHR holds special goalkeeping courses every year – we have been paying great attention to goalkeepers for 15 years. We had a dominance of foreign goalkeepers, but we had to grow our own. As a result, today we have 10 people playing in the NHL. There has never been so much. We even overtook the Finnish goalkeeper guard,” Tretyak said to the “Championship”.

In the regular NHL season 2021/22, Shesterkin took part in 53 meetings, in which he averaged 93.5% of shots, passing 2.07 goals per game, and defended to zero in six matches. “New York Rangers” with Shesterkin reached the finals of the Eastern Conference of the Stanley Cup. The 26-year-old goaltender has made 20 playoff appearances and saved 92.9% of his shots. The average rate of goals conceded per game is 2.59.