Igor Shesterkin, the standout goaltender for the New York Rangers, has made it clear that his contract negotiations must either be concluded before the season opener on Oct. 9 or delayed until next summer. According to “two league sources familiar with the discussions” between Shesterkin and the team, The Athletic’s Arthur Staple and Peter Baugh reported on Monday that the two sides are “far from reaching” an agreement. Shesterkin, entering the final year of his current deal, is seeking a significant pay increase and wants to avoid distractions during the season. Negotiations began months ago but have seen little progress. Last week, the 28-year-old goalie remarked, “That’s my agent’s job. I just want to focus on my game and daily practice.” He also remained open to possibilities, saying, “You never know what might happen.” While there’s no tension between Shesterkin and the Rangers, they are at odds over the contract terms.
Shesterkin is reportedly aiming for a deal that could make him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history, potentially with an average annual value (AAV) of $12 million, as first reported by the New York Post’s Mollie Walker in June and reiterated on Monday. Walker noted that “as The Post reported in June, sources confirm that Shesterkin’s camp is targeting a $12 million AAV.” While the Rangers project to have $29.81 million in cap space for summer 2026, they face the challenge of securing new deals for key players like Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, and K’Andre Miller. To create more cap flexibility, the Rangers might consider trading captain Jacob Trouba, whose $8 million salary has been the subject of trade rumors this summer and could be moved before next offseason.
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