Report: Rangers & Igor Shesterkin Quiet But Record Contract Looming

We haven't heard that much, if anything, about superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin and his upcoming contract extension coming out of the New York Rangers headquarters this offseason.

That's not the case anymore, as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, speaking on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on September 10 ( h/t NHLRumors.com ), shared new information about where things stand between the Rangers and the Russian netminder.

“I know they had discussions at the start of the offseason, and very loose, just 'Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page, and we want to work towards a long-term extension,' which they do," Pagnotta said.

Pagnotta added that the negotiations could be progressing quietly and slowly, which wouldn’t be unusual for the Rangers’ front office, led by general manager Chris Drury, but that ultimately a record-breaking contract should be signed.

"You’ve got to imagine that Shesterkin's (new contract) is going to be based on his performance," Pagnotta said. "(He will be) the highest-paid goaltender at the end of the day once (Boston Bruins' Jeremy) Swayman gets his deal.

"But I think he’s waiting to see where that where that goes, how that plays out before they get too hard into a negotiation, but maybe they are now."

Shesterkin is expected to seek a contract with an annual value that could reach $12 million or more, placing him atop the list of goaltenders on an annual average value (AAV) basis. Currently, Carey Price holds the record for the highest AAV for a goalie at a distant $10.5 million compared to that projection.

Mollie Walker of The New York Post reported on July 10 that Shesterkin’s representatives are eyeing a deal that would take up 14% of the projected salary cap for the 2025–26 season. This could result in an AAV close to $12.9 million, making Shesterkin the third-highest-paid player (not just goalie) in the league, just behind Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl.

Shesterkin’s impressive 2023 season supports the high expectations. The 27-year-old posted a .926 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average. He was also a standout in the playoffs, saving 13.1 goals above expected across 16 postseason games, according to MoneyPuck .

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