Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers was slated to become the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, but he turned down the offer, prompting speculation about his future.
With the news of Jeremy Swayman’s contract extension, a couple of goaltenders are nearing the end of their contracts, and teams are looking to secure their netminders for the next few years, potentially scrambling to sign players in the hopes they don’t leave the team during free agency. One of those goaltenders just declined the opportunity to be the highest-paid goalkeeper in NHL history.
According to NHL Insider Kevin Weekes on X, Igor Shesterkin has reportedly declined an 8-year, $88 million contract with the New York Rangers, which would have made him the league’s richest goalie:
**Breaking News** 🚨 📰
I’m told the Stanley Cup contending & cap spending @NYRangers offer of $88M / 11M AAV has been rejected by G Shesterkin.
Igor has rejected the highest Goalie contract in @NHL history from #NYR . #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/assw8DGUH1— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) October 8, 2024
Shesterkin’s rejection of such a substantial offer is perplexing; unlike teams in free agency, the Rangers can provide Shesterkin with an additional year of contract time. He would rank higher than Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky, Ilya Sorokin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Carey Price, all of whom have skill sets comparable to or higher than Shesterkin’s. There is no doubt that Shesterkin is one of the best goaltenders, but it is unclear what he wants to accomplish.
Does Shesterkin want out of New York?
With his decision to reject the offer, one has to wonder about the reasoning behind it. New York isn’t a rebuilding team, nor are they struggling. In fact, many insiders and analysts predict they will have a strong regular season and make a solid playoff push.
The roster is packed with talent, featuring players like Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, Alexis Lafreniere, Adam Fox, and Kaapo Kakko, positioning them as top contenders in the Metropolitan Division.
So, what’s the issue? While no one knows for sure why Shesterkin chose not to re-sign, one possible explanation could be the intense pressure of playing in a high-stakes city like New York. Shesterkin faces constant scrutiny from the media, which is as relentless as Toronto’s, a challenge for any player—especially a goaltender.
He may be feeling the burden of not yet winning and could be using this season to assess whether the pressure in New York is too overwhelming, potentially considering a move to a less intense environment.
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