With Igor Shesterkin on IR and Adam Fox on LTIR, the Rangers must now navigate a brutal January schedule — a gut‑check moment that will reveal exactly what this team is made of.
Now is the winter of the New York Rangers’ discontent.
The high spirits from last week’s Winter Classic victory in Florida vanished quickly. Back in their home arena, reality hit the fragile Broadway Blueshirts hard.
Rangers hit with a pair of devastating injuries
On Tuesday, the Rangers placed Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve and, surprisingly, moved Adam Fox to Long‑Term Injured Reserve—less than a day after their 3–2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Both are sidelined with lower-body injuries.
Fortunately, New York may have avoided a worst-case scenario with Shesterkin. He went down on a non-contact play Monday, requiring assistance from a teammate and the trainer to leave the ice. Initially, it looked season-ending. Now, early reports suggest he’s “week-to-week,” though the Rangers will likely take a cautious approach with their franchise goalie, meaning he might not return until after the Olympic break on February 26.
If that timeline holds, the Rangers must survive 13 games without Shesterkin—a stretch that could seriously test this season.
To patch the holes, the Rangers recalled Spencer Martin and Scott Morrow
So what does this mean for the Blueshirts? They’ll need to dig deep, simplify their game, and endure another trial in this chaotic 2025–26 season. Starting in net, no one can replace Shesterkin. Mike Sullivan will rely on a tandem of Jonathan Quick and Spencer Martin.
Quick has demonstrated flashes of his former elite self whenever the Rangers have needed him, compiling a 24‑13‑5 record with a .915 save percentage. In Shesterkin’s absences, Quick has gone 12‑6‑3 across two seasons, including a 9‑0‑1 run in 2023–24. While those numbers are promising, expecting the same level is challenging as Quick nears his 40th birthday on January 21.
The upcoming schedule is brutal, with one of the season’s most condensed stretches ahead, including two back-to-back sets. Spencer Martin is expected to start at least four games. He has experience stepping up in short bursts—he went 6‑1‑1 when Vancouver turned to him early in the 2022–23 season after Thatcher Demko’s collapse, earning the coaches’ confidence.
There are reasons for cautious optimism. Several NHL teams this season—like Washington, Carolina, and Minnesota—have thrived with a 1‑2 goalie approach. While those teams are stronger than the Rangers, the blueprint exists.
Ultimately, this period will test the skaters. They must defend well, support their goalies, and play cohesive hockey. As Quick said after Monday’s loss, everyone must have each other’s backs.
Mike Sullivan faces his biggest test yet: fostering an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality. With the No. 1 defenseman and franchise goalie both out long-term, there’s no room for selfish play.
This Igor-less stretch—however long it lasts—will determine whether the Rangers remain in the playoff race.