Since joining the NHL in the 2019-20 season, New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has established himself as a top-tier talent. With his consistent performance and impressive stats, there’s talk he deserves to be the league’s highest-paid goalie. But does he? And what might his ideal contract look like?
Rangers’ Shesterkin deserves new contract
Shesterkin has been a standout performer, frequently rescuing the Rangers in less disciplined games and helping to position New York as a consistent playoff contender and one of the league’s elite teams. His unique blend of energy and relentless work ethic makes him arguably the best goaltender in the NHL.
In contract extension talks with the Rangers, Shesterkin declined an 8-year, $88 million offer, aiming to become the highest-paid goalie in the league. If signed, his annual average salary would surpass that of Montreal’s Carey Price, who set the record with an 8-year, $84 million contract carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $10.5 million.
Should an agreement not be reached, Shesterkin will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season. This poses a challenge for the Rangers, who have just $21,487,143 in projected cap space for 2025-26 and 10 key players with expiring contracts, including goaltender Jonathan Quick (UFA), defensemen Zac Jones (RFA), K’Andre Miller (RFA), and Ryan Lindgren (UFA), as well as forwards Jimmy Vesey (UFA), Matt Rempe (RFA), Will Cuylle (RFA), Adam Edstrom (RFA), Kaapo Kakko (RFA), and Reilly Smith (UFA).
Currently, the Rangers are 9-4-1 with 19 points, placing fourth in the Metropolitan Division. Shesterkin boasts a 6-4-1 record with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, along with one shutout. For New York to maintain its upward trajectory, retaining Shesterkin is crucial, and they’ll need to find a way to fit a competitive offer into their cap. If he chooses another team, the Rangers would be left with a goaltending tandem of Quick and 23-year-old Dylan Garand, who earns $925,000 annually.
While both sides have remained tight-lipped, it’s clear that both know how vital this deal is. New York may need Shesterkin more than he needs them, and regardless of where he ends up, he will continue to be a force in net. His contributions have been instrumental to the Rangers’ success, though they face significant cap challenges with other critical players needing contracts next season. This negotiation could take some intriguing turns.
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