Let’s begin right here: evaluating Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman shouldn't be precisely apples to apples, as they are saying. But the New York Rangers goalie most positively wasn’t going to finalize his contract extension till Swayman inked his new deal with the Boston Bruins.
Swayman ended his holdout Sunday, agreeing to an eight-year, $66 million contract, that’s value a mean annual worth of $8.25 million per season.
Now, the eye pivots to Shesterkin. The Rangers star might be an unrestricted free agent on the finish of this season, and it’s reported he received’t negotiate a brand new deal as soon as the season begins Wednesday, when the Blueshirts face off with the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
It made no sense for Shesterkin to signal his contract earlier than Swayman received his carried out. Shesterkin is searching for to turn out to be the highest-paid goalie in NHL historical past, surpassing Carey Price’s $10.5 million AAV. That was by no means going to vary it doesn't matter what Swayman was going to make — and the 26-year-old Bruins goalie was by no means about to get greater than Shesterkin when all is alleged and carried out.
But Shesterkin’s camp is bound to level to the huge increase Swayman acquired with a less-accomplished resume. Shesterkin’s representatives are certain to level to Swayman equaling Ilya Sorokin’s contract (which kicks on this season) as an indication of the place the goalie market is headed.
So, if Swayman, a much less achieved goalie, landed this large deal — nicely, simply the extra proof that Shesterkin deserves that $12 million or so he’s reportedly searching for.
The Rangers have identified all alongside the place that is headed. At least now that Swayman is signed, they've 4 days to get a deal carried out with their stud goalie. The clock actually has begun to tick now.
Earlier in camp, Shesterkin said his love for the Rangers. But he stopped wanting saying that they're the one workforce he’d be comfortable enjoying for, leaving that free company door open subsequent offseason.
“I love the organization, I love the team, I love the fans,” Shesterkin told reporters. “So, of course, it would be great to stay here. But you never know what can happen.”
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Rangers, Igor Shesterkin conscious of Jeremy Swayman contract comparables
Swayman made $3.475 million final season after a bitter arbitration battle with the Bruins. So his increase is for a bit lower than $5 million per season.
Shesterkin makes $5.66 million yearly on his present deal. Yes, it’s an absolute steal for the Rangers. A increase much like the one Swayman acquired brings him roughly to Price’s AAV. But that higher resume we referred to? Yeah, that comes into play right here and simply may push him previous that $12 million AAV yearly.
Let’s examine Shesterkin and Swayman, who have been statistically the most effective goalies within the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Shesterkin is 29 and is usually a UFA subsequent summer season. Swayman is three years youthful and was an RFA with arbitration rights. Shesterkin has extra leverage.
Shesterkin has been the unquestioned No. 1 goalie in New York for 4 seasons, enjoying 53+ video games in every of the previous three after the COVID-shortened 2020-21 marketing campaign. He’s received 36 or extra video games in every of the previous three seasons and is 135-59-17 with a 2.43 goals-against common and .921 save share in his profession. He received the Vezina Trophy because the NHL’s high goalie in 2021-22 and has led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final in two of the previous three seasons.
Swayman is a terrific goalie, too, arguably among the many finest within the League. But this can be his first season because the true No. 1 in Boston, although by the second half of 2023-24 Swayman had grabbed maintain of the position. Still, he partnered with Linus Ullmark the earlier three seasons, splitting begins with him and serving to kind the highest goalie tandem within the NHL. The pair helped the Bruins win the Jennings Trophy for permitting the fewest objectives within the League in 2022-23, when additionally they received the Presidents’ Trophy. But it was Ullmark, not Swayman, who performed a bit extra and received the Vezina that season.
This is to not knock Swayman, an impressive younger goalie. But you higher consider Shesterkin’s facet will level out how extra superior their consumer is than his Bruins counterpart.
All that mentioned, Swayman’s signing Sunday is sweet for the Rangers and Shesterkin. It ought to present a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel for negotiations. And it actually wouldn’t be a shock if there’s a Shesterkin long-term deal in place earlier than the Rangers go to Sidney Crosby and Co. to open the season.
Read More: How Igor Shesterkin may cross Henrik Lundqvist as biggest goalie in Rangers historical past
Shesterkin can be between the pipes it doesn't matter what on Wednesday evening. Coming off a 33-save displaying in opposition to the Islanders within the preseason finale Friday, Shesterkin was sharp regardless of some ugly play by his teammates in a 5-2 loss.
Whether he’ll have the piece of thoughts that comes with a brand new large contract extension stays the query.
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