I've learn the varied analyses of why it's so dangerous to grant goaltenders lavish, long-term cap-busting contracts akin to the one Igor Shesterkin is searching for, and so they all make good sense.
As properly, there appears to be an instantaneous consensus that the eight-year, $66 million deal struck just lately between the Bruins and 25-year-old Jeremy Swayman that carries an annual $8.25M cap cost ought to function the template for goaltenders.
But right here’s the factor: None of this is applicable on this case. The Rangers have already crossed the Rubicon. Ownership, administration, GM Chris Drury, they've already gone to eight years and $88 million, as The Post has confirmed.
The Rangers aren't trying to restrict the time period to 6 years that will take Shesterkin by his age-34 season. They aren't nickel-and-diming the goaltender, except you wish to tally the quantity of nickels and dimes that quantity to the sum of the provide.
Management has taken the philosophical leap. Unless I'm lacking one thing, they need their franchise goaltender to be their franchise goaltender. And after speaking to sufficient people these final couple of days I don't consider Drury or the Rangers had been the supply of the leak that prompted ESPN’s Kevin Weekes report of the provide.
As I wrote for Wednesday’s print version, this has by no means been Drury’s type. The leak doesn't profit the workforce. In actuality, it advantages nobody. It introduces controversy on the doorstep of the opener that the group would by no means invite.
Regarding Swayman, keep in mind that he had a Dec. 1 deadline with which to fulfill or he wouldn't have been in a position to play in the NHL this season. Shesterkin is beneath contract, and a contract beneath which the workforce’s most necessary participant — and finest participant in the final three playoffs by leaps and bounds — has been the Blueshirts’ sixth highest-paid participant.
This is barely about {dollars}, now. Let me amend that. It is barely about {dollars} for the Rangers. But whether it is about philosophy for Shesterkin and his camp to obliterate the contractual line between a goaltender and a place participant, that presents a extra difficult equation for Drury.
Once upon a time, there was a delineation between contracts of forwards and defensemen, fortunately superior by Boston’s Raymond Bourque, who was proud to face side-by-side with all-powerful GM Harry Sinden. It took the Great Scott Stevens to reset the bar by way of consecutive provide sheets.
If that is the case, if this can be a assertion contract, I can not think about Leon Draisaitl’s extension that kicks in with the Oilers subsequent season during which the membership’s second-best participant will account for 15.91 p.c of the 2025-26 cap ($14M) has helped transfer issues alongside.
Again, if the Rangers consider they will assemble a Cup winner round an $11M goaltender, there actually isn't any argument that including one other $750,000 or $1 million into the pot would destroy the blueprint.
At this level, if I'm the Rangers, I'm presenting Shesterkin with a contract provide that will make him the highest-paid participant per 12 months in franchise historical past at $12M per. If that’s not sufficient, properly, you then play the season as a result of there is no such thing as a palatable quick Plan B at hand and also you cope with it later.
You play the season the method the Yankees did with Aaron Judge in 2022. You play the season the method the Yankees are doing now with Juan Soto.
This is about this 12 months for the Rangers. They have their franchise goaltender beneath contract. If subsequent 12 months should wait, not less than the franchise has had loads of observe at this.
