Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! We first took a look at what the New Jersey Devils could do at the draft. However, their cross town rival New York Rangers have a contract that will need to be addressed. Today’s Rumours swirl around goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
NHL Rumours
Rumour: Mollie Walker of the NY Post discusses the latest contract updates for Igor Shesterkin.
With the Rangers being eliminated from the postseason, it is time to focus on the future. There is no question or doubt that the time to win is now. The core of this group is locked up for the foreseeable future, which is a good thing. Veterans such as Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad.
Chris Drury has done a good job of keeping the youth in the fold and making them part of the future plans. Alexis Lafreniere took the necessary steps in his career and there is more youth on the way. However, the biggest key to the future lies between the pipes. Shesterkin is the most valuable player on the roster and his next contract is hefty.
Shesterkin’s Contract Extension Could be Hefty
The latest NHL Rumours swirl around the crease. Shesterkin is without question a top five goaltender and he played like one. During the 2023-24 season, he started slow and then turned a corner. He went on to finish the year with a 2.58 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage. Also, his 12.1 goals saved above expected was stellar. However, it is not just his regular season success that stands out it was his playoff success.
Shesterkin was a large part of the Rangers post-season run and the team making it to the Eastern Conference Final. During the 2023-24 post-season run, his 15.7 goals saved above expected was the fourth best since 2007. Also, he led in this very category during the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Rangers also reached the last four.
Safe to say, he has been the backbone of the Rangers and is without question their most valuable asset. Drury has his hands full by trying to keep him in the fold and it won’t be cheap. The demand for goalies is going to be great should Shesterkin get out on the open market.
The Price Tag
On July 1, the Rangers can begin contract extension talks. New York Islanders Ilya Sorokin just inked a contract extension with an AAV of $8 million. Also, Andrei Vasilevskiy makes $9.5 million, and it is safe to say he has surpassed their level of play. These guys are among the best in the game at the position, so Shesterkin has a benchmark.
There’s reason to believe that Shesterkin and his camp are seeking $12 million per year on his next deal. That would be the highest contract ever for a goaltender. The price tag would be hefty, but Shesterkin has proved his worth.
Main Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
