Rumors continue to swirl about contract negotiations between the New York Rangers and Igor Shesterkin.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Shesterkin has one simple request and that’s to be the highest paid player on the Rangers.
"[Panarin's] cap hit is slightly above $11.64 million,” Friedman said. “I believe Shesterkin’s representatives (the agent is Rick Komarow) have a simple argument: Igor is your best player, he should be compensated as such. The highest-paid AAV ever for a goalie is Carey Price, at $10.5M. The Rangers have made it very clear: we will beat that."
Kevin Weekes of ESPN reported that Shesterkin turned down an eight-year, $88 million contract from the Rangers that would have made him the highest paid goalie in the league.
The 28-year-old would be breaking one milestone with that contract, but it seems that he wants to be compensated based on his value to the team as opposed to what the goaltending market usually generates..
Star goalies tend to make less money than superstar forwards and defensemen. Shesterkin and his representatives are trying to break that trend, which would completely transform the goalie market.
At the end of the day Shesterkin is just too valuable for the Rangers not to give into his asking price as the team will likely eventually pay him his requested amount especially if he continues to play at a top-tier level.
Until that happens though, the speculation about his future will only grow even further.
