Rangers’ Shesterkin and Fox Update

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox have been skating on their own, but head coach Mike Sullivan doesn’t see them returning to full practice with the Rangers anytime soon.

After a practice session in Tarrytown on Sunday, Sullivan mentioned that Shesterkin has skated “probably more than four or five times.” Shesterkin is currently on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury from January 5, while Fox is on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body issue and hasn’t played since that same overtime defeat against the Mammoth.

Shesterkin could be eligible to come back soon, but Fox won’t be available until January 31 for a game against the Penguins.

“They’ve been on the ice a few times,” Sullivan said as the team readied to face the Bruins on Monday. “They skated yesterday morning, so they’re making progress.” A full return to practice is the last hurdle for getting the $92 million goaltender and former Norris Trophy winner back to the lineup.

With Shesterkin sidelined, backup Jonathan Quick has struggled, recording a 0-5-0 record and allowing 23 goals in five starts, while Spencer Martin, who was brought up from AHL Hartford, has a record of 1-2-0 with .881 save percentage in three starts, stepping in twice when Quick was pulled. Meanwhile, Fox’s ongoing absence compelled the Rangers to promote Braden Schneider to the top defensive pairing alongside Vladislav Gavrikov, who has also been moved to Fox’s power-play position.

The Rangers faced difficulties on the power play earlier in the season when Fox missed 14 games with a shoulder injury, and they have managed to win only 5 of 19 attempts since Fox’s latest injury.

In a somewhat unrelated note, Sam Carrick, who typically isn’t tasked with scoring, expressed frustration after the January 8 loss to the Sabers. He reflected on missed opportunities and felt he hadn’t contributed enough offensively.

Despite this, Carrick recently scored his third goal of the season and his second in six games during the Rangers’ loss to the Sharks, suggesting he might be gaining momentum in turning chances into goals.

“He does a lot of the thankless work that helps the team win,” Sullivan remarked. “It may not always show on the score sheet, but he makes a difference in those subtle ways. He’s physical, supports his teammates, takes faceoffs, and is key on the penalty kill. His determination really energizes the team.” Sullivan added, “It’s great to see him score; it must be a confidence boost, and everyone’s excited for him.”