Igor Shesterkin Turns Down Record-Setting Contract Offer From Rangers: NHL Insider
That’s hardly the best way for the New York Rangers, who have Igor Shesterkin as their ace goaltender, to start the 2024–25 NHL season.
Former Rangers goaltender Kevin Weekes tweeted that Shesterkin turned down an eight-year, $88 million contract deal from the Blueshirts. With an average yearly salary of $11 million, Shesterkin would have been the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history. The current benchmark for goalies is $10,5 million AAV, set by Carey Price.
This is probably only the beginning of the negotiations. The 29-year-old goaltender is reportedly seeking more than $12 million a season. So, the Rangers are aware that they’ll need to step up from this rumored offer.
Additionally, it has been claimed that Shesterkin will end talks if a contract extension is not reached before opening night, which is Wednesday when the Rangers play the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
It’s difficult to imagine, though, that the Rangers will let their top player to go as an unrestricted free agency the next year, given this much money and security. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem probable that Shesterkin would back down if the Rangers contacted or fulfilled his contract demands after the season got underway.
It is improbable that Shesterkin or Rangers general manager Chris Drury will address discussions in any way. Drury is known for being reticent, which is advantageous in a crucial negotiation such as this one. At the start of training camp, Shesterkin gave a speech on the subject and essentially promised not to bring it up again.
Shesterkin told reporters in September, “I love the organization, I love the team, and I love the fans.” It would be wonderful to remain here, of course. However, you never know what may occur.
At the beginning of training camp, Drury told reporters, “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure he’s here for a long time.”
Related: Rangers staff predictions for the 2024–25 NHL season: Stanley Cup or bust
Rangers intend to sign Igor Shesterkin before to his UFA status in the upcoming offseason.
NHL Network had Shesterkin as their number one goalkeeper going into this season. With a record of 135-59-17, a 2.43 goals-against average, and a.921 save percentage through 213 NHL regular-season games, the 2021–22 Vezina Trophy winner is the best goalkeeper in the league.
Shesterkin has been outstanding in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final two of the last three years. His postseason record is 23–20, with a 2.41 GAA and an impressive.928 save percentage.
The Rangers are in serious salary cap trouble because three key players need to be re-signed before the next summer. The two-time NHL All-Star is one of them. When this season finishes, restricted free agents with the right to arbitration, forward Alexis Lafreniere and defender K’Andre Miller, in particular, will be entitled to significant raises.
Ryan Lindgren, a defenseman, inked a one-year, $4.5 million contract this summer, meaning he could be a UFA the following year. However, there’s a fair likelihood that cap constraints will prevent the Rangers from signing him. Currently sidelined due to an upper-body ailment is Lindgren.
Regarding Shesterkin, he had a great preseason and it doesn’t seem like his play is being impacted in any way by the contract negotiations. However, we shall see how all of this transpires.
