Brandon Montour #62 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck against Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Every time New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin takes to the ice, his value only goes up. Since reportedly rejecting an eight-year, $88 million deal with a salary cap of $11 million, Shesterkin has proven why he is the best goalie in the NHL and deserves to be compensated accordingly.
According to an RG source, the Rangers’ free-agent goalie has the potential to command whatever salary he desires.
"I think the basis of all this is if Igor Shesterkin wants $12 million, if Igor Shesterkin wants $12.5 million, he is going to get it," said the source.
Performance Metrics Supporting Shesterkin's Salary Demands
Shesterkin has been performing exceptionally well for the Rangers at the beginning of the season. Through six games, he has recorded a 2.16 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, including one shutout, demonstrating his crucial role in the team's success.
As RG previously reported, Shesterkin aims to be the highest-paid goaltender in the league. He understands the significance of his contributions, stating, "He's going to get it because of how important he is to the team."
The Rangers rely heavily on Shesterkin to secure victories. This reliance mirrors how they depended on Henrik Lundqvist during his career. New York’s defense is structurally flawed; they concede numerous shots and depend on their goaltender to win games while capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes. This dynamic gives Shesterkin substantial leverage in salary negotiations.
Comparing Salary Benchmarks Among NHL Goalies
Shesterkin is asking for a salary that reflects 13 to 15 percent of the salary cap, akin to top NHL players.
"If it's $12 million and the cap goes up to $92 million, his cap percentage is right in the ballpark of what Henrik Lundqvist was when he signed his deal with the Rangers for $8.5 million a year," the source explained. "It's right in the ballpark."
Carey Price serves as a benchmark for NHL goalies, with a salary of $10.5 million, representing 13.21 percent of the cap in 2018-19. With Price no longer active, Sergei Bobrovsky's $10 million contract has decreased from a little over 12 percent to 11.36 percent. These are the contracts Shesterkin aims to surpass.
The Future of Igor Shesterkin’s Contract Negotiations
As Shesterkin enters the prime of his career, he is improving continually. With a rising salary cap, his cap percentage will decrease, making it likely that he will emerge as the highest-paid goalie in the league.
"There's various different things," the source noted. "There's signing bonus money and all this stuff that can come into play. But in the end, Shesterkin will get whatever he wants."
Jim Biringer
