Thirty-seven years old and with two years remaining on his contract, The King will need an heir to his throne sooner than later. It just so happens highly regarded Russian goaltending prospect Igor Shesterkin is finally here, ready to begin his career in America five years after he was drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round.

The timing would seem perfect. Shesterkin can learn under Henrik Lundqvist until he’s ready to take his turn on Broadway. Plus, he grew up looking up to Lundqvist, describing him as his “idol.”

“Right now I just want to prove how I play the game, that I could be [his replacement one day], but I have a long way to go to prove that,” he said through a translator on Monday following his first workout in the team’s development camp at Chelsea Piers in Stamford. “I’m very honored to sign a contract with a club like the New York Rangers. It’s a great honor for me, but it’s just the beginning. I will do everything I can to play as well as I can, and then it will be up to the coaching staff to see where I fit.”

It remains to be seen where that is exactly. The 23-year-old Shesterkin has been putting up impressive numbers in Russia’s KHL, going 24-4 with a 1.11 GAA and a .953 save percentage in the regular season this year before registering a 4-5, 1.95, .904 in the postseason. He could start with the Rangers as Lundqvist’s backup or he could find himself with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL for seasoning. Alexandar Georgiev is back after starting 30 games a year ago.

“I think he’s coming here to try and make [the team],’’ general manager Jeff Gorton said. “I’m not going to be in someone’s way and tell him, ‘You have no chance to make our team.’ … We’ll let that work itself out when training camp comes around.’’

For now, Shesterkin is getting adjusted to his new life in New York. He arrived three days ago and has already visited a few museums. He took countryman and Rangers right winger Pavel Buchnevich’s advice to walk rather than drive to get around. The presence of Buchnevich, and fellow Russian prospects Yegor Rykov and Vitali Kravtsov, has made him feel comfortable.

“Hopefully they don’t take anything away from my ability to learn English,” Shesterkin joked.

Most importantly, Shesterkin is set to begin his career in the Rangers organization and could be Lundqvist’s heir apparent. He seemed at ease taking questions from reporters, making jokes and exhibiting confidence in his foreign tongue. But he doesn’t feel like he has arrived.

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