Igor Shesterkin won’t talk about a contract extension during the season.
The New York Rangers’ star goalie wants $12M per year, and he’s not giving any discounts. The team has to figure out how to fit this into their budget before the season starts in two weeks. They also need to re-sign other players like Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, William Cuylle, Ryan Lindgren, and K’Andre Miller.
Shesterkin’s demand for a high salary is understandable given his performance. He has an impressive record of 135-59-17 in 208 games with a .921 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average over the past five years. In 2021-22, he had one of the best seasons ever for a goalie . He’s only 28 years old, so a long-term deal would cover his prime years until he’s 37.
Salary Cap Challenges:
The Rangers might free up some money by moving on from Jacob Trouba’s contract next offseason, which would add another $8M in cap space. Even then, committing $12M annually to Shesterkin could be tricky with other contracts needing attention.
Fans might wonder if it’s worth it to pay Shesterkin that much money when there are so many other players to consider.
Shesterkin loves the team and fans but knows anything can happen: “I love the organization. I love the team. I love the fans. So, of course, it would be great to stay here, but you never know what can happen.”
Free Agency Competition:
If Shesterkin hits free agency aiming for a record payday for goalies, many teams will be interested in him. Only six teams are projected to have less than $12M in cap space by the 2025-26 offseason; thus plenty of teams could afford him if they need a top-tier goalie.
The Rangers have until Oct. 9 to negotiate without distractions this season and another short window between June 23 and July 1 in 2025 after the Stanley Cup Final ends before free agency begins.
What do you think? Should they break the bank for him or focus on balancing their roster?
