September 27, 2024 | 10:55am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

SHESTERKIN LONG-TERM CONTRACT TALKS CONTINUE

Igor Shesterkin, goaltender

Contract negotiations between the New York Rangers and goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s agents continue, as the two sides attempt to close the financial gap on a long-term, eight-year extension.

Multiple reports this week have revealed that Shesterkin will soon become the highest paid goalie in NHL history as his average annual value is expected to hover around $12 million per season.

As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported on Thursday, the Rangers and Shesterkin’s camp, led by agent Maxim Moliver, are still hammering away at the dollars and overall structure of the contract that will eventually see the superstar netminder surpass Montreal’s Carey Price ($10.5M AAV) at the highest paid goalie in the NHL.

Shesterkin, 28, is in the final year of a four-year, $22.67 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025.

It is believed that Shesterkin’s preference is not to negotiate during the regular-season, which gives the Rangers until Oct. 9 – New York’s first game of the 2024-25 campaign – to lock in a new deal or risk waiting until the end of their season to resume negotiations, at that point the value may increase further.

Shesterkin’s contract may also impact that of fellow goalie Jeremy Swayman, who remains in negotiations with the Boston Bruins on an eight-year deal, as well.

Swayman, a restricted free agent, has not been attending Boston’s training camp as the two sides continue to negotiate a new contract.

The Rangers remain confident they’ll be able to finalize a deal with Shesterkin by the start of the season and these conversations are expected to continue Friday and over the weekend.

In 55 games with the Rangers last season, Shesterkin posted a 36-17-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against-average, a .913 save percentage and four shutouts. He captured the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2022.