Five possible landing spots if the Rangers don't bring back Igor Shesterkin

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin will likely be a member of the New York Rangers for a long time.

Respected hockey journalist Elliotte Friedman of "32 Thoughts: The Podcast" has reported as much over the past few episodes, suggesting the Rangers have already decided to sign Shesterkin to a contract extension. Shesterkin, 28, is playing out the final year of a four-year, $22.67M deal ($5.67M AAV). 

For now, the situation is unsettled, and the door is open for the possibility of the superstar hitting free agency. If that happens, here are five teams that could make pitches for Shesterkin:

Toronto Maple Leafs

You can't rule anything out when involving a winning-starved organization with a rapid fan base and an ability to basically print its own money. 

Toronto's cap situation will be determined by forwards Mitchell Marner and John Tavares. Both players are on expiring contracts that eat up about 25% of the team's cap sheet. 

From Shesterkin's perspective, he'd be joining the richest organization in the league, a team with a Stanley Cup-winning head coach in Craig Berube (with Blues in 2019) and one of the league's best players up front in Auston Matthews. 

Utah Hockey Club

Utah, previously Arizona, spent years accumulating draft picks and prospects, resulting in it having in-house candidates to replace almost any unrestricted free agent. With ample cap space, no major commitments at goaltender and a desire to make a splash in a new market, Utah is uniquely positioned to permanently end its rebuild. 

For Shesterkin, this would be an excellent fit on a young, up-and-coming team that still has ample assets to continue to improve the group around him and can meet his contract demands.

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal seems ready to compete with its talented ensemble of young scorers. It has issues defensively, some of which are hidden thanks to current goaltender Samuel Montembeault. 

Montreal's executive vice president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, is highly familiar with Shesterkin. He was the assistant GM of the Rangers when the team drafted the Russian in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft. He later became the Rangers GM and brought Shesterkin to North America. 

In May 2021, Rangers owner James Dolan unceremoniously and unexpectedly fired Gorton. 

Personal connections aside, the Canadiens are one of the more important organizations in the NHL. Montreal has largely drifted into mediocrity and irrelevancy. It won't tolerate that forever.

Detroit Red Wings

One of the more important franchises in the league is staring at potentially its ninth consecutive season outside the playoffs. 

Detroit has NHL talent on the roster that's good enough to be competitive and a stocked cupboard of prospects. GM Steve Yzerman has generally been patient in the rebuild, but that time may be nearing an end because major prospects are coming close to joining the organization. 

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago brings to the table a little of every part of the other teams on this list. It's a massive market and an Original Six organization. Also, it has the prospect cupboard stocked, ample cap space and fans who are weary after a decade of last-place finishes and first-round playoff exits. 

The Blackhawks already have maybe the most attractive piece for any team: a once-in-a-generation scorer in Connor Bedard. Only Toronto can offer something similar.

The concern with Chicago would be the $7.55M it is spending on Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit at goaltender for next season. If Chicago can dump at least one of those players and get Shesterkin, it would be worth the effort.