Goaltender Igor Shesterkin has turned down an eight-year, $88 million proposal from the New York Rangers, as reported by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes. This contract would have set a new NHL record for a netminder, surpassing Carey Price’s eight-year, $84 million deal from 2017.
As Shesterkin approaches unrestricted free agency next summer, he has decided not to engage in contract extension negotiations during the ongoing season.
Last season, the 28-year-old posted a .912 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average, with a record of 36 wins, 17 losses, and 2 overtime losses. He finished fourth in the voting for the Vezina Trophy.
Since entering the league, Shesterkin has consistently ranked among the top goaltenders. Since 2021, he has led the NHL in wins with 109 and holds a .921 save percentage, ranking second only to Linus Ullmark. His most notable season came in 2022 when he was awarded the Vezina Trophy and named a Hart Trophy finalist.
Shesterkin’s playoff performance is historically strong; his .928 save percentage in 44 postseason games ranks third among netminders with at least 40 starts, following Tim Thomas (.933 in 51 games) and Craig Anderson (.929 in 48).
Reports indicate that Shesterkin’s camp aims to “reset the goalie market.” Notable contracts signed by goaltenders since Price’s record deal, according to PuckPedia, show that Price’s $10.5 million cap hit represented 13.2% of the salary cap at the time of signing. If applied to the projected $92 million cap for the 2025-26 season, this would translate to a $12.15 million cap hit.
| GOALIE | YEAR | TERM | CAP HIT | TOTAL VALUE |
| Andrei Vasilevskiy | 2019 | 8 years | $9.5M | $76M |
| Sergei Bobrovsky | 2019 | 7 years | $10M | $70M |
| Jeremy Swayman | 2024 | 8 years | $8.25M | $66M |
| Ilya Sorokin | 2023 | 8 years | $8.25M | $66M |
| Connor Hellebuyck | 2023 | 7 years | $8.5M | $59.5M |
The Rangers are set to open their regular season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
