MSG Networks and Optimum might’ve settled their beef just in time for Rangers fans to tune in, but after what transpired on Saturday, they probably wish they hadn’t. The Blueshirts came back to the ice after the 4 Nations break with full force, only to be defeated in Buffalo. The Sabres, or the fourth-worst team in the NHL, demonstrated a great performance and defeated the New York Rangers with a score of 8-2. By the time the first 20 minutes of play ended, the game was as good as over, the remaining time was just an anti-climax.

And at the heart of the disaster? Igor Shesterkin, who came back from the injury and received five goals on 16 shots before getting pulled after 18:21. One could not even say that fans were annoyed; they were angry, to say the least. Watching their star goalie get shelled and the team crumble in epic fashion was not how they imagined this one going. But it didn’t end there!

NHL reporter Mollie Walker took to X after the game, dropping a little postgame bombshell: “Igor Shesterkin was requested by media for postgame interviews, but the #NYR goalie did not come out.” And just like that, the internet erupted. Rangers fans weren’t just upset—they were absolutely fuming.

One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “That’s a horrible look. Hank always spoke, good or bad. His responsibility as a professional is to face the media. Igor was horrible as was the team. But he still has to answer questions. Bad optics and bad job by media relations.” Yikes. When the hockey world starts pulling out Henrik Lundqvist comparisons, you know it’s bad.

However, it must be noted that two of the goals Shesterkin conceded were from rebounds in the slot, but let’s be real—he wasn’t exactly locked in, either. Puck tracking? Off. Confidence? MIA. And while he had to ease back into practice last week after dealing with that mysterious pre-break injury, the fans were not ready to accept any excuses.

Ever since signing that monster eight-year, $92 million extension—the one set to make him the highest-paid goalie in the league next season—Shesterkin just hasn’t been that brick-wall, best-in-the-world netminder the Rangers banked on. And after a brutal 8-2 collapse, let’s just say the patience in New York is wearing real thin. But this was just the tip of the iceberg!

New York Rangers’ goalie faces the heat!

Another fan did not hesitate to add, “He’ll never be like Hank.” And let’s be real—Henrik Lundqvist? He joined the NHL in 2005, took the starting position from Kevin Weekes and did not let anyone take it from him. For 15 seasons he dominated the New York arena of Madison Square Garden and set records of 459 wins, 64 shutouts, and 23,509 saves for the garden. And, by the way, he is the second in NHL history in terms of shootout victories with 61. So yeah, Shesterkin’s feeling the heat. The comparisons are coming in thick and fast, and living up to a legend like Hank? That’s a whole different level of pressure.

But oh, it doesn’t stop there. Another fan threw in, “Wow. I let it go the last time he did this, but this is starting to get ridiculous. Be a leader. Hank would never have done this.” And you know what? That’s some serious shade. Flashback to December 2024. In the game against their game against the Los Angeles Kings, not only were the Rangers breached twice in the first period, but they let in three goals in a little over 5 minutes in the second. The man between the sticks? Igor Shesterkin. And now that he did not face the media after the match against the Sabres, another fan wasn’t happy about it, “Can’t handle the media. Don’t like where this is going.”

And just when the heat could not get any worse, another fan came through with this statement: “This will be the WORST goalie contract in history.” Oof. Well, we are not here to discuss that, but let’s go back to December 2024 when the contract of Igor Shesterkin with the New York Rangers was signed. This means that he signed an eight-year contract worth $92 million with an average annual salary of $11.5 million.

At the age of 28, he was in the final year of the previous deal that he had signed for four years for $22.6 million, with an average annual value of $5.6 million. He could have gone for the free agent status on July 1, 2025, if he had waited. But nope—he secured the bag and, just like that, became the highest-paid goalie in the NHL. That is even more than Carey Price’s eight-year, $84 million contract with the Canadiens. So, what do you think? Is this contract a masterpiece or a mess?