NHL Rumor Mill – September 25, 2024

by | Sep 25, 2024 | Rumors | 14 comments

Check out the latest on Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman in today’s NHL Rumor mill.

LATEST ON SHESTERKIN’S CONTRACT TALKS WITH THE RANGERS

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Igor Shesterkin will become the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, eclipsing Carey Price’s $10.5 million average annual value with the Montreal Canadiens.

Brooks writes that the Shesterkin camp seeks an AAV of $12 million. He would be shocked if Rangers general manager Chris Drury hasn’t already pitched an offer between $10.5 million and $11 million.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).

However, Brooks believes Shesterkin wants to be the highest-paid player on the Rangers. That would mean exceeding Artemi Panarin’s team-leading cap hit of $11.642 million. A $12 million AAV would represent 13.04 percent of next season’s projected $92 million cap.

Brooks also doesn’t understand why some observers are fixated on the percentage of the cap going to goaltenders. He pointed out there was no fuss when Panarin signed his contract with the Rangers or Leon Draisaitl’s new deal with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s probably tied to Shesterkin’s somewhat limited body of work compared to Panarin and Draisaitl plus the nature of his position. The performances of today’s NHL goaltenders tend to fluctuate more than their predecessors.

Shesterkin holds all the leverage and seeks the best deal he can get. If the Rangers won’t pay up, another club will via free agency.

Losing Shesterkin would signal a transitional phase for the Blueshirts. They need him between the pipes to keep their Stanley Cup window open because they have no one in their system to replace him and no comparable options to pursue in the trade and free-agent markets.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports dialogue continues between Rangers management and Shesterkin. He noted that the goalie’s camp has informed the club that they’d rather not negotiate once the puck drops on the Blueshirts’ season opener on Oct. 9.

The Rangers are willing to pay Shesterkin north of Price’s $10.5 million but it remains to be seen how high they’re willing to go.

SPECTOR’ S NOTE: Brooks was dismissive of that Oct. 9 deadline, suggesting the two sides could get a deal done in-season if the Rangers meet Shesterkin’s asking price. Nevertheless, Drury and his staff would likely prefer to sign a deal that emerges from their current negotiations.

UPDATE ON JEREMY SWAYMAN

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports of ongoing dialogue between Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins. However, things remain status quo as they’re still not there in terms of a deal.

He thinks the real deadline for a contract is the Bruins’ season opener (Oct. 8) rather than the recent start date of training camp. Swayman is fixed on getting an eight-year contract. The Bruins also hope to sign him to a long-term deal.

LeBrun also believes the Swayman camp is trying to push through what other goalies have recently signed. He noted Juuse Saros signing an eight-year extension worth $7.74 million this summer with the Nashville Predators and Connor Hellebuyck agreeing to an eight-year extension worth $8.5 million last summer with the Winnipeg Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: To recap, Swayman is a restricted free agent coming off a one-year, arbitration-awarded contract worth $3.475 million.

Conflicting reports suggest Swayman seeks an AAV between $8.5 million and $10 million on an eight-year contract. Those reports agree the Bruins offered up between $6.2 million and $6.4 million.







14 Comments

  1. I love Swayman but he has not earned more than the Saros contract IMHO I would think fair to both a 5 yr deal at Saris type $ Then Swayman would have a chance to $$ in one more time

    • For what it’s worth Mrbruin4, here’s one of the most recent speculation on the prevailing issues, quoting Pierre LeBrun

      https://nhltradetalk.com/bruins-set-deadline-on-swayman-deal-goalie-fixated-on-term/

      In part, the article says

      “Swayman, a restricted free agent, is reportedly focused on securing an eight-year contract. The Bruins are also aiming for a long-term deal, but there appears to be a significant gap between what the two sides are asking for financially.

      There have been conflicting reports about what the actual AAV is, some suggesting Swayman’s camp is seeking an annual average value (AAV) between $8.5 million and $10 million. The Bruins’ offer is believed to be in the range of $6.2 million to $6.4 million per season, with Spittin’ Chiclets host Ryan Whitney saying he knows for a fact the Bruins lowballed Swayman, which upset the netminder.

      LeBrun reports that Swayman’s contract expectations are influenced but not heavily by deals signed by other top goaltenders. LeBrun pointed out that Juuse Saros secured an eight-year extension worth $7.74 million per year with the Nashville Predators, while Connor Hellebuyck signed an eight-year extension worth $8.5 million annually with the Winnipeg Jets. Swayman’s camp is likely looking to match or surpass these figures.”

      • Since his camp might be “influenced” by the deals given to Saros and Hellebuyck, here are their statistical comparisons:

        Saros signed his deal this past July after having played 350 games with 23 SO. a 2.63gaa 182W 119L 32 OT/SO and a 0.917 save %

        Hellebuyck signed his deal on Oct 9, 2023 to which point he had played 445g with 32 SO, a 2.61gaa 248W 154L 37 OT/SO and a 0.918 save %

        Swayman, to this point, has played 132 g with 12 SO, a 2.34gaa 79W 33L 15 OT/SO and a 0.919 save %

        Seems like Swayman has to play a few more games before he can start comparing himself to those two.

  2. I agree, that Shesterkin is probably the best goalies in the NHL. But that is a lot of money for an 8 year contract wherein he turns 30 in the first year. Rangers have a tough decision. Best other teams can offer, if it ever gets that far is 7 years.

  3. I keep reading “no comparable free agents available” regarding Shesterkin, but maybe they don’t need a $12m goalie: perhaps Ullmark or Swayman will be available by next July for $8-10m, which allows the Rags to sign a better team around them. Perhaps they find two $5m goalies and platoon them until one rises above. All of these seem like better options than putting all of your eggs in one basket for 8 years.

    • That is what I think too. It’s easier to replace Shesterkin with a little bit lesser goalie like a Saros than it is replacing a Panarin or Draisaitl and not losing team strength.
      This is why I believe top goalies generally don’t make as much as top players.

    • Nah, worked out great with DiPietro and Price. Those contracts can’t miss. Remember when Luongo signed that contract with Vancouver then when they couldn’t trade him he told a press converence they couldn’t move him because his contract sucked…ah good times.

    • If I am not mistaken,if Swayman doesn t play this year,he will not be aUFA until 2027-2028!

  4. “Shesterkin holds all the leverage and seeks the best deal he can get. If the Rangers won’t pay up, another club will via free agency.”

    I disagree.
    I don’t think anyone will pay him 12.
    But. That’s what rumor sites are for. Opinions. We shall see.

    • I know I would take a firm stance on the amount and the term Dark G, not sure the Rags will.

      Also easy to say from here, a lot tougher when your team is trying to win a cup like NYR are and a really important player can become a UFA.

      This is an interesting one to see where it ends up. Goaltending seems to be the one position where the salary hasn’t gone consistently up when an elite player gets to UFA, or a year away. Which makes sense in my brain due to the volatile nature of the position.

      Not sure he holds all the leverage, but definitely has a bunch.

  5. The principle is you pay your studs the biggest amount of money, be it a F, D, or G. and that made sense in the past.

    Goalies used to play 60-70 games a year and some carried the team, were the studs.

    It’s an 82 game season, how does a G who plays 40-45 games deserve top dollar?

  6. I appreciate that Igor wants to be highest paid. But to say he wants paid more than panarin? The first is reasonable. The second is pure ego.

    • For me the comparable is Sorokin

      • Ryan W doesn’t know crap. Sweeney never tips his hand to local media and they hate him for it. Only once did Sway say something himself and it wasn’t anything to do with price or Sweeney not answering his calls lol so stupid Ryan must be getting high off his own supply