The New York Rangers are in talks with Igor Shesterkin about a new contract.
Shesterkin mentioned in an interview that his agent, Maxim Moliver, is handling all the discussions with the team’s general manager. He said, “I can’t say anything else. For me, the most important thing now is preparing for the season and being 100% ready mentally and physically.” An exciting season awaits him while his agent works on the contract details.
Shesterkin prefers to focus on his game while letting his agent handle negotiations. The 28-year-old goalie has had an impressive five years with the Rangers, boasting a record of 135-59-17 in 208 starts. His save percentage stands at .921, and he has a goals-against average of 2.43. With his current four-year $22.67M contract ending after the 2024-25 season, he could become one of the top free-agent goalies available.
Contract Talks:
Comparing Shesterkin to greats like Roberto Luongo, Connor Hellebuyck, and Sergei Bobrovsky shows he’s on track for a lucrative deal . These players have all secured significant contracts throughout their careers, and Shesterkin is expected to match or even surpass them in salary.
Fans might wonder if this means higher ticket prices next season.
Hellebuyck recently signed a seven-year deal worth $8.5M annually with Winnipeg Jets last summer. Some speculate that Shesterkin could aim for as much as $12M per year to set a new benchmark for goalies’ salaries. However, it’s unclear if the Rangers can afford such an amount given their other financial commitments next summer.
Realistically speaking, Shesterkin’s new salary will likely fall between $9M-$11M annually according to Evolving-Hockey’s prediction of $9.455M over eight years. Even though negotiations might stretch into the upcoming season, Shesterkin believes everything will be settled before he becomes a free agent next offseason.
What do you think? Will they manage to keep him?
