Rangers' Igor Shesterkin Must Do Even More To Justify A Record-Breaking Contract
Igor Shesterkin (Danny Wild-Imagn Images)
The New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin set a high standard when he signed an eye-catching contract earlier this season – but his results afterward haven't met it yet.
Shesterkin's pending UFA status and impending extension were among the NHL's top storylines early in the season. Often regarded as one of the best goalies in the league, there were reports before his extension that he looked to reset the market for top-tier backstops.
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He did just that with an eight-year deal worth $11.5-million annually that kicks in next season.
But there's immense pressure and expectations of being a highly paid starter, where great isn't good enough. Shesterkin will be the highest-paid goalie in 2025-26, and his play has to justify that investment. It's questionable at the moment.
He's now amid one of his most challenging seasons since debuting with the New York Rangers in 2019. His 2.84 goals-against average and .906 save percentage are respectable but not elite, especially considering the record-setting cap hit. They're both career worsts for him.
While few will ever reach the numbers that will justify an $11.5-million cap hit, the Rangers' eventual willingness to commit to him as a franchise cornerstone sent a message. They believed in him.
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It's way too early to declare the massive investment a mistake or a success.
It should also be noted the Rangers have been abysmal defensively in front of Shesterkin. He still has 22.2 goals saved above expected, which ranks third in the NHL, according to moneypuck.com. In a season that didn't go to plan for the Rangers, Shesterkin has had to bail out his teammates, and The Hockey News' Remy Mastey wrote that Shesterkin is proving his worth.
But his drop in goals-against average and save percentage does raise the question about how consistently strong goalies like him need to play to justify eight-digit cap hits.
Can Igor Shesterkin Save The New York Rangers This Season?
Can Igor Shesterkin Save The New York Rangers This Season? The New York Rangers made goaltender Igor Shesterkin the highest-paid goalie in NHL history in December, but he hasn't played like it.
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His current stats echo what happened to Sergei Bobrovsky when he signed a monster contract with the Florida Panthers.
Bobrovsky left the Columbus Blue Jackets for a lucrative $10-million cap hit in Florida after already winning the Vezina Trophy twice and recording a 2.58 GAA and .913 in 2019-19. His numbers with the Panthers worsened, and he recorded a 3.23 GAA and .900 SP in the first season of his new contract. It took him multiple seasons to rediscover his elite form. While he eventually led the Panthers to a Stanley Cup in 2024, the journey to justifying his contract was a long one.
Now, with nearly 50 career shutouts – including five this season and six last year – he's proving his worth. But for years, there were questions about whether his deal was one of the worst in the league and how big a mistake the Panthers might have made.
While elite goaltenders can be game-changers, big-money deals come with significant risk. Shesterkin now has the pressure to prove they are worth the investment. Similar questions about Bobrovsky could surround Shesterkin if his numbers don't rebound when the new contract begins.
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