Former New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto openly discussed Igor Shesterkin’s contract talks with the team.
“I Don’t Know How You Let A Guy Like That Walk Away,” Del Zotto told Forever Blueshirts during Fanatics Fest.
Del Zotto, who played alongside Hockey Hall of Famer and Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist for several years, is well-positioned to offer insight on the situation. As of July 1st, Igor Shesterkin became eligible for a contract extension, but no deal has been finalized yet. He is currently in the last year of his four-year, $22.667 million contract, with a salary cap hit of $5.667 million.
Igor Shesterkin Wants To Be Highest Paid Goaltender
Shesterkin has expressed a desire to become the highest-paid goalie in the league, which makes the ongoing lack of a deal surprising. For a team that is poised to compete for a championship, parting ways with a top-tier goaltender like Shesterkin seems illogical. Despite a slow start to the season, Shesterkin has been one of the Rangers’ standout players and ended the season on a strong note.
During the regular season, Shesterkin posted a record of 36-17-2 with a 2.58 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He particularly excelled in the playoffs, notably during the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers, where he was outstanding in Game 6.
New York faced a significant disadvantage in shots, being outshot 34-24 in Game 6 and 202-151 over the entire series. The Panthers also had a 468-372 edge in shot attempts. This is precisely the role of a franchise goalie—providing his team with a chance to win. In 16 playoff games, Shesterkin recorded a 10-6 record, a 2.34 GAA, and a .927 save percentage.
Shesterkin’s impressive statistics give him significant leverage in his bid to become the highest-paid goaltender. Currently, Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens holds the top spot with a $10.5 million AAV, followed by Sergei Bobrovsky at $10 million and Andrei Vasilevskiy at $9.5 million.
Negotiations are likely to start around the $10 million mark, with Shesterkin reportedly seeking between $11-$12 million. This raises the question of whether general manager Chris Drury might find this too costly and consider moving on from a franchise goalie like Shesterkin. There’s a reason why NHL Network has ranked Shesterkin as the top goalie for the 2024-25 season, highlighting his value and the potential impact of such a decision.
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