NY Rangers Rumors: Shesterkin's Next Contract Will Be Record-Breaker

He was other-worldly during this year's New York Rangers playoff run, and it's become pretty commonplace around Madison Square Garden that goaltender Igor Shesterkin is the straw that stirs the drink for the Blueshirts.

"It sounds like it's gonna be a big ticket," says insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, speaking of Shesterkin's next contract. The Rangers' netminder has one year left on his $5.66M AAV contract. "He projects to be the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history." Pagnotta suggests that Shesterkin could hit the $10M-$11M AAV range at least, which is right there with nudging him past the current record-holder, Carey Price, whose $10.5M is the standard-bearer at the moment.

Fellow insider Elliotte Friedman was even more adamant when discussing Shesterkin's next contract on the Jeff Marek Show on Tuesday. He doesn't think a $10M AAV gets it done. Not even close.

To me, there's no chance the Rangers are getting him for 7 years x $10M. If they do, they should just run to Kinko's and print up the contract... Maybe the Rangers offer $10.5M, maybe they'll offer $11M, I don't know. (But) I am convinced it's going to be the No. 1 goalie contract in the league.

Shesterkin seems to know what's coming, and is enjoying it. In his exit interviews with the media on Tuesday, he had a hilarious answer to a question about his next contract and whether he'll be a Ranger for the long term:

Igor Shesterkin was asked if he is thinking about a long-term contract with the Rangers:

"I'm sorry, I don't speak English" 😂 pic.twitter.com/jSOhkZbmKx
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) June 4, 2024

"I'm sorry, I don't speak English," said the Russian netminder, who does of course speak the language (the language of English, and the language of money, no doubt, as he is clearly not tipping his hand).

In only five seasons, Shesterkin already has one Vezina Trophy on his mantlepiece, a career .921 save percentage (with a league-leading .935 in 2021-22) and a 2.43 goals-against average with 15 shutouts. His numbers are even better in the playoffs, with a .928 career Sv% and a 2.41 GAA.