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There’s no doubt that goaltenders have been the main story to begin this 2024-25 NHL season.
From Linus Ullmark’s blockbuster move to Ottawa, to the Jeremy Swayman saga, to Thatcher Demko’s mysterious ailment — goalies have been top of mind.
Now that pens have been put to paper on extensions for Ullmark and Swayman, the magnifying glass turns to Manhattan, with all eyes on Igor Shesterkin.
NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes reported on Tuesday that the 2023 Vezina Trophy-winning goalie turned down an eight-year, $88 million contract offer from the New York Rangers but with unrestricted free agency fast approaching, the start of the regular season doesn’t necessarily mean the end to the Shesterkin saga.
“There had been a soft deadline on the start of the year to get this done,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on the Saturday Headlines segment during Hockey Night in Canada. “The overall position seems to be that the Rangers believe that if they can get to a number that makes Shesterkin happy, that the start of the season doesn’t mean this can’t get done at some point.
“We’ll see what happens. I’ve heard many times that Shesterkin has positioned himself as the Rangers’ best player and most important player. I don’t think anybody would disagree with that, and that is the target here.”
The 28-year-old Moscow native is in the final year of a four-year, $22.67 million contract and is set for a significant raise from his current $5.67 million cap hit. In fact, it’s near certain that not only will he become the highest-paid Ranger, but he’ll also become the highest-paid goaltender in the league.
The Rangers’ current top-paid player is forward Artemi Panarin at $11.64 million per year, and while the Rangers would surely not have the success they’ve accomplished without Panarin, Shesterkin is undeniably the pillar in New York.
With 11 pending free agents, should the Rangers really pour nearly 30 per cent of their total salary cap into two players? Maybe so.
“It’s a good debate,” Friedman added. “Some people who negotiate say that you never want to move that far. Other say, you know what, if the player is worth it — and there’s no question that Shesterkin is worth it — you just go and make the deal.”
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