Hockey

Report: Igor Shesterkin Wants To Set The Market For Goaltenders With His New Contract

Published: Oct 10, 2024, 11:40 AM
4 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2025, 11:21 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates following a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins

Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates following a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

 

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is in the news after reportedly rejecting an eight-year, $88 million contract extension with an $11 million annual average value.

Shesterkin will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and according to a well-placed source in the Metro Division who spoke with RG.org, he wants to set the goalie market for a long time, shattering the current mark held by Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.

"He wants to set the market for goaltenders, and he doesn't want just to nudge it over the top," said the source. "He wants to set the market and not be beaten in that market in a little while."

Price is at the top of the list, and the salary cap hit is $10.5 million. However, he is not playing anymore for the Canadiens, and the active leader amongst goalies is Stanley Cup сhampion and current Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at $10 million.

Shesterkin has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1st and is in the final year of a four-year, $22.67 million contract with an AAV of $5.67 million. During that time, he has taken the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final twice, won a Vezina Trophy, and was a nominee for the Hart Trophy as League MVP.

Ever since Shesterkin joined the Rangers, he has been their best player, and the Rangers know it.

"He knows the Rangers need him. He knows the Rangers have to sign him," the source said.  

Shesterkin and his camp believe he is the best, if not the most valuable, player on the New York Rangers. Therefore, he wants to be compensated accordingly. You can't argue that either, considering what he has done in the playoffs and regular season. He has a career 2.42 GAA and a .921 save percentage in the regular season. In the playoffs, he has a 2.41 GAA and a .928 save percentage.

 

 

Without Shesterkin last year in the playoffs, the Rangers were swept by the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final and may not make it out of round two against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Not only does he want to be paid as the highest-paid goalie, but the highest-paid Ranger as well. Right now, Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has a salary cap hit of $11,642,857. Shesterkin wants more than that.

There was an unofficial/official deadline of Wednesday evening, October 9th, when the Rangers took on the Pittsburgh Penguins (6-0) as Shesterkin and his camp indicated they want to get a deal done before the season starts, and they may want to wait to negotiate in season.

Both sides are still talking about a contract extension. The Rangers want him in New York. He wants to stay in New York. However, they are still figuring out what that number will be.

"The Rangers do not have an issue making him the highest-paid goalie in the NHL," the source said. "At the end of the day, he will reset the market for goalies. Whether the number starts with an 11 or 12, he will be the standard."  

In August, Shesterkin told RG.org reporter Daria Tuboltseva: "My agent, Maxim Moliver, is talking to the general manager [about the contract]. I can't say anything else. For me, the most important thing now is preparing for the season and being 100% ready mentally and physically. An exciting season is ahead, and the agent will discuss the contract.”

Reporter

Having 10 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, Rod Pedersen Show, Raw Mike Richards Show, and more) covering the Devils, the NHL along with College Football, the NFL, and the tennis circuit Jim Biringer has wealth of sports knowledge. As one of Jim's hockey coaches put it he is a "student of the game." During his time as a sports reporter, Biringer has covered some of the biggest events including most recently the 2024 Stanley Cup Final along with several NHL Drafts. He is also the host of the Full Press Hockey Podcast and Final Word on Hockey plus Around Campus - The College Football Podcast.

Interests:
NFL
NHL
College Football

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NHL Writers

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

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