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The New York Rangers and goaltender Igor Shesterkin have agreed to an eight-year contract extension, sources have confirmed.
This new deal, with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.5 million, will make Shesterkin the highest-paid goalie in NHL history, suring the previous record set by Carey Price. Shesterkin is currently in the final year of his four-year contract, which has an AAV of $5.66 million.
The negotiations for Shesterkin's extension have been ongoing for several months. His representatives argued that he should be the highest-paid player on the team, a title that is currently held by Artemi Panarin with an AAV of $11.6 million.
Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2022, has proven himself to be one of the premier goaltenders in the league, and this contract reflects his importance to the Rangers.
This season, has had a challenging start, with an 13-10-1 record, a 3.05 goals-against average (GAA), a .908 save percentage, and one shutout. Despite these numbers being below his usual standards, the Rangers believe in Shesterkin's ability to return to top form and continue to be a key player for the team's future success.
The announcement of Shesterkin's contract extension coincides with a busy period for the Rangers. They also traded their captain, Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks on the same day.
As of Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers are in a playoff position but are striving to improve their recent performance. The team hopes that locking in Shesterkin for the long term will provide stability and help them make a strong push for the playoffs.