The New York Rangers are relying on a crucial bargaining chip in their contract negotiations with Igor Shesterkin.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently addressed the ongoing situation between the New York Rangers and goaltender Igor Shesterkin on the 32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman believes the Rangers are confident they’ll secure a contract extension, noting that the team is leveraging a crucial negotiation point.
Shesterkin, who is entering the final year of his contract and could become an unrestricted free agent afterward, is reportedly seeking to “reset the goalie market” with a salary demand of around $12.5 million per year. He has also informed the Rangers that he won’t negotiate once the regular season starts.
Friedman is optimistic a deal will be reached before then. He stated:
“To me, everything coming out this week signals that the Rangers are saying, ‘There’s no reason to worry. We’re signing this player, making him the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL. We understand how vital he is to the team and will get this deal done.’”
Friedman also mentioned that the negotiations will center around finalizing the exact number.
Do the Rangers Have Leverage Many Are Ignoring?
Friedman mentioned that the Rangers are relying on a significant negotiating advantage that some may have overlooked: “The one advantage the Rangers have is they can offer the eighth year.” He further explained, “If Shesterkin doesn’t re-sign with the Rangers, he’ll lose out on that extra year at a substantial salary. That’s something the Rangers can use to their benefit.”
How crucial is that extra year to Shesterkin? It’s unclear at this point. However, if maximizing his earnings is the goal, he would need a contract of around $14.3 million annually for seven years to equal what he could make over eight years at $12.5 million per season.
That’s a significant amount to forfeit, and it’s uncertain if any team would be willing to offer him more than $14 million per season. If they did, Shesterkin would not only become the highest-paid goalie in the NHL, but the highest-paid player overall.
How Confident Should Shesterkin Be?
Shesterkin has maintained a 2.42 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage over his five seasons with the Rangers. As a former Vezina Trophy winner and Hart Trophy finalist, he’s considered one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. However, the question remains: what is his true value?
Friedman commented, “In my view, and based on everything we’ve seen this week, they’re going to sign him. The only question is what the final number will be.”
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