Jeremy Swayman & Igor Shesterkin's contract demands could reset the NHL forever
Photo credit: Athlon Sports
Two of the top goalies in the NHL are Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman, who both play for original six-teams.
That's not the only similarity between the two goalies, as they're both going through long contract negotiations.
Swayman is in a contract dispute with the Bruins as he sought a long-term contract, up to eight years of term. While Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins only want to sign Swayman for four.
While Shesterkin is in the process of negotiating a new contract, with the Rangers and GM Chris Drury. It's been reported that Shesterkin could ask up to $12 Million AAV for his next deal.
He's considered one of the best goalies in the NHL right now, and will it be palatable for the Rangers to retain him??
According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN, Shesterkin wants a bigger deal than Carey Price's 10% of the salary cap at $10.5 Million AAV, while Swayman is asking for a similar price.
If GM Chris Drury decides to give into Shesterkin and signs with the Rangers after his contract expires in 2025, Shesterkin could redefine the value of goalies in the NHL entirely.
This could be a boon for someone like Sergei Bobrovsky who at one point was derided for his expensive contract, up until he delivered a Stanley Cup for the Florida Panthers in 2023-2024.
Bobrovsky has a current cap hit of $10 Million AAV and was largely unpopular from the start in Florida.
But unlike Bobrovsky, Shesterkin hasn't won a cup but is a consistent playoff performer.
With news that GM Chris Drury is unfazed by contract demands, he will have to sell Shesterkin on more than just a $110 Million deal and sell him on the intangibles of taking a friendlier deal.
While Shesterkin is the future for the Rangers will he sacrifice a small bit of cap space, for a larger role in NHL history as a Stanley Cup Champion?
Sergei Bobrovsky is a great example of a player who took bumps and bruises along the way and still secured a championship after a failed run in Columbus in 2019. He remained humble, worked with his team, and delivered a cup to the Panthers.
Source: Hockey Unplugged
Jeremy Swayman & Igor Shesterkin's contract demands confirmed: Could change NHL forever
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 25 | 54 ANSWERS Jeremy Swayman & Igor Shesterkin's contract demands could reset the NHL forever Will Shesterkin sign a team-friendly deal instead of making salary cap history? | ||
| Yes | 24 | 44.4 % |
| No | 30 | 55.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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