NHL Rumors: Igor Shesterkin and Rangers agree to historic $92M contract extension | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

The New York Rangers are reportedly poised to sign Igor Shesterkin to the largest goaltending contract in NHL history.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Rangers and Shesterkin have agreed to an eight-year, $92 million deal worth $11.5 million per year.

Shesterkin will be the first goaltender to earn more than $10.5 million per year. The reported extension dwarfs the eight-year, $84 million contract Carey Price signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2017.

The news caps a busy Friday for the Rangers, who reportedly traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks hours earlier.

The Ducks took on all of Trouba’s $8 million cap hit for the next two seasons as part of the trade.

The Rangers, who received defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and his $1.1 million cap hit in return, freed up nearly $7 million in cap space with the trade.

The additional cap space may have allowed the Rangers to increase their offer over the eight-year, $88 million contract Shesterkin reportedly turned down before the 2024-25 season, according to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes.

Shesterkin, who turns 29 later this month, is in his sixth season with the Rangers and his fourth as the franchise’s starting goaltender.

Starting with his 2021-22 Vezina Trophy season, Shesterkin has established himself as one of the NHL’s best goaltenders over the past three seasons. He posted a .921 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average and a 109-43-14 regular season record during that span.

Those numbers have dropped given the Rangers’ struggles to start the 2024-25 season. Shesterkin has posted a 3.05 GAA and a .908 save percentage so far while earning just eight wins in 18 starts.

His stats were not helped by the Rangers’ defense, which ranks 31st in the NHL with 32.8 shots allowed in 24 games.

Shesterkin’s deal is a vote of confidence that he can return to Vezina’s caliber and help the team’s path to the Stanley Cup while playing behind a stronger defense.

The extension also means the Rangers have signed five players through the 2028-29 season, with Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafrenière and Adam Fox joining Shesterkin in New York as long-term signings.