BREAKING: New York Rangers top goalie tandems ranked after Jonathan Quick contract extension

The New York Rangers this season have stood out in the NHL, particularly due to their exceptional goaltending tandem comprising Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. This duo is arguably one of the finest in the franchise’s history. Recognizing the value of this dynamic pairing, the Rangers recently secured Quick with a one-year contract extension, ensuring continuity in their goaltending lineup for the next season.

Despite their impressive performances, it’s worth evaluating how Shesterkin and Quick compare to the top goaltending tandems in Rangers’ history. It’s important to note that the concept of goalie tandems wasn’t prevalent for the first four decades of the franchise’s existence. For instance, during the Rangers’ Stanley Cup victory in 1939-40, Dave Kerr played every minute of all 48 games. Although Gump Worsley and Marcel Paille nearly split the 70 starts evenly in 1957-58, such arrangements were exceptions rather than the norm.

New York Rangers all-time top 5 goalie tandems

5. Mike Richter and Glenn Healy

Richter and Healy could certainly be considered for inclusion on this list, primarily because they formed the goaltending duo when the Rangers broke a 54-year Stanley Cup drought and emerged victorious in 1994. Richter was a standout with 42 wins that season, while Healy contributed 10 wins, following his noteworthy role in leading the Islanders to the Eastern Conference Final in 1993.

Their partnership extended for three more seasons following the Cup triumph, during which Healy notably improved upon his performance from the championship year. In the post-Cup years, Healy’s numbers demonstrated an upward trend. Notably, during the 1995-96 season, Healy played more games (44 compared to Richter’s 41), largely due to Richter’s injury. Nonetheless, Richter managed to secure more wins despite playing fewer games.

Their final season together as a tandem saw Richter and Healy guiding the Rangers to the 1997 Eastern Conference Final, although they ultimately fell to the New Jersey Devils in that series.

4. Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick

In the 2023-24 season, Shesterkin and Quick have swiftly established themselves as an exceptional goaltending duo. Despite their relatively brief time together, their partnership has been formidable. When Shesterkin was sidelined early in the season, Quick seamlessly stepped into the role, maintaining momentum with an impressive 9-0-1 start to his tenure with the Rangers. Moreover, during periods when Shesterkin required time to refine his game both before and after the All-Star break, Quick once again rose to the occasion, securing crucial victories and initiating a notable 10-game winning streak.

Coach Peter Laviolette now has the enviable task of choosing between two top-tier goaltenders on any given night: the accomplished Vezina Trophy winner, Shesterkin, or the seasoned three-time Stanley Cup champion, Quick. Such a depth of quality options is a rarity for many coaches in the league.

Looking ahead to the next season, the Rangers have ensured continuity in their goaltending by securing Quick with a one-year contract extension. This decision allows Shesterkin and Quick to continue their successful partnership for another season.

3. Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Talbot

During Henrik Lundqvist’s illustrious 15-season tenure with the New York Rangers, he had a series of exceptional goaltending partners. Early in his career, he worked alongside Kevin Weekes and Steve Valiquette, later transitioning to Alexandar Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin, with stints from Marty Biron and Antti Raanta in between.

Lundqvist notably logged 70 or more games in a season on four occasions and consistently surpassed 60 starts per season during his prime. However, it was Biron and Raanta who particularly shone with their outstanding performances in limited appearances.

Yet, Lundqvist’s most notable partnership was with Cam Talbot during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. In their first season together, Talbot, as a rookie, proved himself more than capable as a backup, securing 12 wins with an impressive 1.64 goals-against average and an extraordinary .941 save percentage. Lundqvist guided the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final that year, ultimately falling short in five games against Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings.

In the subsequent season, Talbot played 36 games following Lundqvist’s first significant career injury. Talbot notched 21 wins while Lundqvist added 30 victories as the Rangers claimed the Presidents’ Trophy. Despite this regular-season success, they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

2. John Vanbiesbrouck and Mike Richter

Two of the most accomplished goaltenders in New York Rangers history joined forces for an impressive four-season stretch, commencing with the 1989-90 campaign. John Vanbiesbrouck, an established star and Vezina Trophy winner by the time Mike Richter arrived, formed a formidable partnership with Richter, serving as the backbone for several highly competitive Rangers teams.

In their inaugural season together, Vanbiesbrouck and Richter played pivotal roles in leading the Rangers to a first-place finish in the Patrick Division. The following season, they secured a respectable second-place finish in 1990-91. Vanbiesbrouck initially took the lead during the 1989-90 season, with Richter assuming additional starts in the subsequent season. Notably, “Beezer” and Richter also collaborated for the United States team at the 1991 Canada Cup.

In the 1991-92 season, under coach Roger Neilson’s strategy, both goaltenders alternated starts throughout the regular season, with each earning 41 starts. This approach proved highly successful, as the Rangers amassed an impressive 50 wins (Vanbiesbrouck with 27 wins, Richter with 23), clinching the Presidents’ Trophy. However, their postseason journey was cut short by a surprising defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Following a disappointing team performance in the 1992-93 season, Vanbiesbrouck was claimed in the expansion draft by the Florida Panthers. Subsequently, Richter took the reins and led the Rangers to a historic Stanley Cup championship victory in 1994.

1. Ed Giacomin and Gilles Villemure

Giacomin and Villemure set the gold standard for Rangers goaltending tandems, with Giacomin, a Hall-of-Famer whose No. 1 jersey hangs retired in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and Villemure, both being stars in their own right. While each possessed the capability to handle the goaltending duties individually, coach and general manager Emile Francis astutely recognized that the Rangers could benefit more from utilizing both goaltenders rather than relying solely on one.

From the 1970-71 season, during which they shared the Vezina Trophy, to 1974-75, Giacomin and Villemure formed an unparalleled one-two punch in net throughout the league. Their partnership was marked by consistent excellence, with both goaltenders earning selections to three NHL All-Star games during their time together, including twice in the same season in 1971 and 1973.

Although Giacomin typically played approximately 10 more games per season than Villemure, except in their final season together when Villemure started 45 games, the Rangers made the playoffs in each of the five seasons the pair shared the net. Their postseason successes included reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1972 and making it to the playoff semifinals three times.