The reason Igor Shesterkin turned down historic Rangers offer

It’s hard to argue that Igor Shesterkin isn’t the best current goaltender in the National Hockey League — and the New York Rangers know that. So much so that they reportedly offered the Russian $88 million over eight years on a new contract extension, which would have made him the highest-paid netminder in league history.

But Shesterkin turned down the record-breaking offer, and Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman speculated as to why on Wednesday.

“What I do believe is this: I believe that Shesterkin and his representatives have argued that he is the best player on the team, and that he should be paid as such,” Friedman told Bob Stauffer on the latest episode of the Oilers Now podcast.

“I don’t think they’re looking for Draisaitl money ($14M AAV) or anything like that, but I do think that their ask would make him the highest paid player on the Rangers, and right now the highest paid player is (Artemi) Panarin ($11.642 million AAV). So I think that’s kind of what we’re looking at here, is the Rangers don’t want to go there at this point in time.”

Carey Price is currently the league’s highest-paid goaltender; the Montreal Canadiens veteran makes $10.5 million AAV. And it looks like an offer of $11 million AAV won’t do it for Shesterkin, who is probably looking for upwards of $12 million on his next deal.

A new wrinkle has been added to the situation after the offer went public, and the hope has got to be that the situation involves less drama than Jeremy Swayman’s contract saga with the Boston Bruins.

Still, with the salary cap going up, Shesterkin will very likely be worthy of upwards of $11.5 million as he continues in his prime.

Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin will earn even more if he has another great year