Igor Shesterkin wants absurd amount of money on extension with Rangers

The New York Rangers lived up to the stereotype of Presidents' Trophy winners, bowing out before the Stanley Cup Finals, to the Florida Panthers to keep the curse alive.

It was not due to a lack of goaltending as Igor Shesterkin did everything he could to steal the series for the Rangers. In 16 playoff games, the 28-year-old went 10-6 and posted an oustanding .926 save percentage and 2.34GAA. Those numbers, coupled with his regular season 36-17-2 record and .912 save percentage and 2.58 GAA have led to some believing that he could become the highest paid goaltender in NHL history.

Shesterkin is about to enter the final season of a 4-year deal he signed in 2021 that will see him carry a $5.66M cap hit. According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, Shesterkin could command upwards of $12M on a long-term deal, citing former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price as a comparable. Price, who is still on LTIR, signed an 8-year deal worth $10.5M per season in 2017.

Comparing Shesterkin to Price, as you can see below, Shesterkin's numbers are far better than Price's. Understanding that Shesterkin not only has a better team in front of him, and Price played far less games, Shesterkin outranked Price in goals saved above expected, save percentage and goals saved above average in the three seasons they both played.

According to Evolving Hockey, a projected extension for Shesterkin would come in at 8 years and $9.4M per season. Given his performance and the comparables, that appears to be low and it shouldn't come as a surprise if he at least equals Price's AAV, or exceeds it due to rise in the salary cap.

If the Rangers choose to 'low-ball' Shesterkin with something in the $9M range and fail to show any substantial wiggle room, it should not come as a shock the 2022 Vezina winner moves to part ways with the Rangers. That is a monstrous "if", though, and Rangers fans shouldn't worry just yet.