The puck drops on the New York Rangers’ season Wednesday night, and with that, an unofficial deadline will pass.
We’ll see now just how strongly Igor Shesterkin feels about shelving talks on an extension once his team’s regular season begins. That’s a sentiment that was expressed to the team, but is it ironclad?
There’s no reason to doubt that Shesterkin’s preference is to focus on the season and nothing else, but one would imagine there is some wiggle room. If the Rangers in mid-November offer an extension that hits the sweet spot for Shesterkin’s camp, are his reps really not going to bring it to him?
It’s their job to do so, so of course they would. If the superstar goalie says at that point that he doesn’t want to deal with it in-season, then so be it. There will still time after the season to get it done before July 1. But I think you have to leave the door open about the possibility that an extension is still doable in-season, no matter what’s been expressed.
In the meantime, we had a tweet from Kevin Weekes on Tuesday saying Shesterkin has declined an eight-year, $88-million offer from the Rangers.
Rick Komarow, who represents Shesterkin along with Max Moliver, declined comment Tuesday when asked about the report. I suspect the timing of it wasn’t terribly well appreciated by them.
It had already been reported last month that the Rangers were willing to pay Shesterkin more than Carey Price’s $10.5 million AAV, the highest cap hit on the NHL books for a goaltender. League sources confirmed that the Rangers have indeed made that offer to Shesterkin.
But wherever that latest offer is, it’s obviously still not at the number that’s going to close the deal.
Shesterkin’s camp believes he is the best goalie in the world, and I think the Rangers agree. But within that agreed context, there’s the reality that the salary cap keeps climbing, and this is about the percentage of the cap for the top players in the game.
If Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is worth $14 million per year on his extension that kicks in next season — a contract very much influenced by the growing salary cap — how much is the best goalie in the world worth? I don’t believe for a second that Shesterkin’s camp is asking for Draisaitl money, but it’s obviously above $11 million. So I ask again, as I did a few weeks ago, is it $12 million or $13 million that gets it done?
And for the Rangers, what number makes it too difficult to assemble a team around him? That’s a legitimate concern.
The modern NHL philosophy is to push back on paying goalies the same as top skaters. But we just saw Jeremy Swayman in a restricted-free-agent negotiation go against that philosophy and win. Against the Boston Bruins, no less.
Shesterkin, with the leverage of unrestricted free agency and the reputation of being the best goalie in the world, can justifiably argue he’s worth more than $11 million per year based on the growing salary cap.
The final piece of this puzzle is the eighth year that only the Rangers can offer. My sense is that Shesterkin’s camp doesn’t view that as a be-all and end-all. If they go to market July 1, the average annual value on a seven-year deal will be massive. And if he’s still playing reasonably well when that seven years is up, even at the age of 37, one would imagine someone will be willing to pay him on a one-year contract. Maybe not at top dollar by that age, but there’s still a salary there.
So, here we are, with the Rangers’ season about to begin. It’s the most interesting negotiation in the NHL this season when you consider the financial landscape for goalies and the bar it will set.
Whether that’s with the Rangers or elsewhere.
Swayman impact on Oettinger
There’s a goalie in Dallas who no doubt was paying close attention to what was going on with his Team USA pal in Boston.
Jake Oettinger is an RFA after the season and the same age, 25, as Swayman. The impact of Swayman’s $8.25 million AAV-per-season deal could be felt across the goalie market but especially for such a close comparable as Oettinger.
The Dallas Stars and Oettinger’s camp, led by agent Ben Hankinson, had only a brief conversation this summer. So far, no meaningful extension talks have commenced. All things being equal, my sense is the Oettinger camp would probably want to wait and tack on a big year this season as leverage before engaging meaningfully. But that doesn’t stop the Stars from trying to negotiate during the season, which I think they will.
I think Oettinger absolutely loves it in Dallas, so there’s every expectation that this gets done once the sides dive in for real. But the Swayman contract has made things harder for the Stars.
The really challenging part for the Cup-contending Stars is that young star forward Wyatt Johnston is also an RFA after the season, and that’s going to be a big-time contract, as well.
Leafs and Tavares extension talks
The Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares’ camp, led by veteran agent Pat Brisson, have had contract discussions.
Obviously, the delicate dance here is finding a sweet spot on what a pay cut looks like from Tavares’ current $11 million AAV.
They’re not there yet, but the dialogue will continue. There’s mutual interest in continuing the relationship. Tavares is raising his family in his hometown and doesn’t want to go anywhere. But I don’t think there’s any rush to get something done, either, especially from the team’s perspective. Obviously, the Leafs have other important files, led by pending UFA Mitch Marner.
(Top photo of John Tavares and Igor Shesterkin: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
