STAMFORD, Connecticut – Igor Shesterkin doesn’t have any intention of making things awkward.

The 23-year-old goaltender signed with the New York Rangers after a historic season in the KHL. Some suspected that he was coming over from Russia with the expectation of supplanting Henrik Lundqvist — or at least getting significant playing time.

But as he participates in Rangers’ Development Camp this week at Chelsea Piers Connecticut, Shesterkin has made it clear he doesn’t want to be handed anything.

“Right now, I just want to prove how I play the game — that I could be (the eventual replacement),” he said Monday. “But I have a long way to go to prove that.”

The Rangers have a logjam at the position, but as long as everyone stays happy, it’s a good problem to have.

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Lundqvist will go down as one of the greatest netminders in franchise history, and it’s going to be difficult to wrestle his starting spot away. But the reality is that Lundqvist is 37 and coming off a season in which backup Alexander Georgiev outperformed him.

Lundqvist started 52 games, going 18-23-10 with a 3.07 goals against average and a save percentage of .907. Georgiev, who is the same age as Shesterkin at 23, went 14-13-4 in 33 games with a 2.91 GAA and save percentage of .914.

Shesterkin’s numbers from last season are on a different level.

While playing with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL — the second-best league in the world behind the NHL — he went 24-3-1 with a 1.11 GAA, .953 save percentage and 10 shutouts. His GAA was the second-best for one season in KHL history.

That's quite the resume, yet he’s coming into camp with the mindset of an unaccomplished rookie.

“No matter what, I have to prove quite a bit,” Shesterkin said. “I’m very far from the pinnacle that I envision for myself. I have work to do.”

With Lundqvist and Georgiev entrenched as the top two goalies, the logical landing spot for Shesterkin is as the starter for the Rangers’ top affiliate in the AHL, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

But Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton isn’t shutting the door on Shesterkin making the big club.

“He’s coming here to try and make it,” Gorton said. “I’m not going to be in someone’s way and tell them you have no chance to make our team. … He’s had a lot of success with where he’s been at. He’s played at high levels, he’s won — so I don’t think I’m in a place to tell these guys they don’t have a chance. We’ll let that work itself out.”

That’s the right thing for Gorton to say, but a move would likely have to be made to clear the way for Shesterkin. Either that, or Georgiev would have to be demoted after earning his spot last season.

The elephant in the room is Lundqvist’s salary.

He’s the highest paid player on the Rangers at $8.5 million for the upcoming season, which isn’t ideal for a team that's in the midst of a youth movement — especially when they have two 23-year-old goalies ready to take over. But Lundqvist is a New York hockey legend, and the Rangers will do everything they can to avoid a messy divorce.

“Henrik Lundqvist is my idol since I was a little boy, so I very much look forward to seeing him on the ice and learning what he does on the ice,” Shesterkin said in an important display of respect.

Lundqvist has two years remaining on his contract, and the best-case scenario for the Rangers is that he returns to form. That would give them some time to decide if the future lies with Shesterkin or Georgiev, then work to get as much as they can in a trade for the odd-man out.

But Shesterkin doesn’t seem to be worrying about all of that. He’s keeping his head down and exhibiting patience for the good of the franchise.

His main concern for the moment is giving the Rangers a tough decision to make — and adjusting to New York City.

“I talk to (Rangers teammate Pavel) Buchnevich quite a bit, and he told me that it’s a great city — but you need to walk, not drive,” he joked. “Two days ago, I walked 22 kilometers, so I’m getting used to it.”

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