Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 13, 2024
Check out the latest on the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin and the Leafs’ Timothy Liljegren plus a look at the Kraken’s goaltending future in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST SHESTERKIN SPECULATION
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the start of this season was seen as a soft deadline for the New York Rangers to reach an agreement on a new contract with Igor Shesterkin.
The 28-year-old goaltender can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025. He reportedly rejected an eight-year, $88 million offer last week from the Rangers.
Friedman indicates the Rangers believe they can still get Shesterkin under contract during this season if they can reach a number that will make the goaltender happy. He noted that Shesterkin has positioned himself as the Rangers’ best and most important player.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).
It’s near-certain that Shesterkin will not only become the highest-paid Ranger but also the NHL’s highest-paid goaltender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shesterkin is said to be seeking an average annual value of $12 million on an eight-year contract. The offer he rejected offer had an AAV of $11 million. Perhaps there’s a number in between that both sides can agree on.
Some fans don’t believe Shesterkin (or any goaltender) is worth that much. As Friedman pointed out, he’s well-positioned to seek that amount.
The Rangers need Shesterskin if they want to keep their Stanley Cup window open beyond this season. No one in their system can wrest the starter’s job away from him nor are there any viable alternatives in this season’s trade market and next summer’s free-agent market.
If the Rangers don’t sign Shesterkin they should start rebuilding their roster, replacing veterans like Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad with promising youngsters. That also means finding a future starting goaltender.
UPDATE ON LILJEGREN
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox reports Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is working the phones trying to trade Timothy Liljegren and his $3 million AAV. However, he believes if it were easy to trade a third-pairing defenseman with a second-pair salary, it would’ve happened by now.
Fox noted there isn’t any urgency to move Liljegren but there could be soon. The Leafs are maxed out in NHL contracts and salary-cap space. Players on long-term injury reserve like Jani Hakanpaa, Calle Jarnkrok and Connor Dewar will eventually return to the lineup. If another Leaf gets injured, that will delay the pressure to trade Liljegren.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox doesn’t see Liljegren having a long-term future in Toronto. He speculates that a rival club with a banged-up blueline could come calling at some point.
Liljegren must see some playing time and improve his performance to generate interest from rival clubs. Even then, the Leafs might have to retain a portion of his salary to facilitate a deal.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE IN GOAL FOR THE KRAKEN?
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kate Shefte believes the Kraken’s goaltending future got interesting after they signed Joey Daccord last week to a five-year contract extension. The 28-year-old netminder will earn an AAV of $5 million starting next season.
The Kraken is also paying Philipp Grubauer $5.9 million annually through 2026-27. They’re investing a lot in two goaltenders.
Shefte cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggesting a possible buyout for Grubauer if Kraken management wished to go that route.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken could prefer trading Grubauer at some point. However, that could mean adding a sweetener like a quality draft pick or young player in the deal or retaining part of his average annual value.
A buyout next summer would count as $1.983 million against their cap for 2025-26, rising to $3.083 million for 2026-27 and dropping to $1.683 million annually for the final two years.
I think Seattle might regret giving Daccord 5 million with Grabauer making almost 6! I would have waited to see how the Montour, Stephenson contracts looked after this season! Jumped in a little early!
The new norm for a $12M AAV goalie is to give up 5 goals on 15 shots?
But to be fair, “I can give you 12 million reasons” Shesty will bounce back with a vengeance.đ
Maybe Ottawa should visit the idea of pursuing Timothy Liligren to help with their anaemic offense .
Timothy has the the potential to âbloomâ in Ottawa and lead Ottawa to new heights
A change of scenery for Timothy might very well be what the Dr ordered !
With a lenient donation , 2nd round pick and a quality prospect, I am sure Ottawa can get this deal done sooner than later .
A Win , Win for all involved !
Lol!
Yeah … right Ken. Save that for April 1.
Liljegren would be about 8th in the D pecking order in Ottawa … which is about where he sits in the Leafs’ D corps.
George you said the same thing last year about Robertson. Liljegren like Robertson suffered un Keefe`s system of make a mistake and then go sit. The only reason Timmins is playing over Liljegren is he makes 1.1 million not 3 and if you like stats, Liljegrens numbers aren`t that bad. If a team gives him a chance he could develop into a decent 2nd pairing guy. I`m definitely not saying Ottawa should trade for him, but he`s better than Hamonic or Jensen. I think Vancouver would be a good fit for him
OK, shouldn’t have denigrated the kid like that – and he is a RD. But not for a 2nd and top prospect.
No right now that part I agree with, I`d take a 2nd and run. Unless Toronto starts playing him and he shows more then they could ask for more, but until then it`s nothing more than a salary dump. What makes it harder right now is Toronto can`t take any salary back and most clubs don`t have 3 million in cap space
I know itâs a cap dump but as a Toronto fan youâd give a 2nd AND a quality prospect to move the guy?
Chrisms, I’m not sure who or what you’re talking about and quite frankly I don’t think you do either
Right now he’s be a top 4 on two team’s RD – both with streams of cash – Columbus and Anaheim, both of whom could take him for the balance of his deal without blinking..
Very true George, makes you wonder on just how hard Treliving is trying to trade him. With Hakanpaa`s health in question and I`m not sold on timmins being the answer. The need for a RHD might just make Treliving look elsewhere to balance the books
Ken said Toronto would donate a 2nd and a quality prospect to move the fella? I think thatâs a bit much of a sweetener myself.
@ Chrisms
U misread my comment ?
A second and a prospect coming back to Toronto !
Georgeâs comment , Anaheim and Columbus might be the answer
Oh.
Sorry Ken. But thatâs so egregious my brain didnât even consider it. If you are dumping cap it usually requires a sweetener.
chrisms, worst case scenario, Leafs put Lilly on waivers. I would not expect him to clear. Meanwhile there are approx 3 weeks before anyone can come off LTIR.
Who takes him? Nobody wants a 3 mil third pair d man. Theyâd have to hope heâs at least top 4 in their system. Send another player down that could in turn get waived. And they know leafs would like the space. No. I doubt he doesnât clear waivers.
Personally, I donât see Shesterkin going anywhere. Itâs possible contract structure could be the problem, not money ( nmc, signings bonusâ,) if they donât sign him, I donât see a rebuild. They just came out of one and have plenty of young talent. Panarin and Zib both have nmcâs. Kreider has partial ntc. Signing Shesterkin will require replacing some higher paid guys with younger cheaper options. I donât see Trouba back next year. Heâll either be traded or bought out. Lingren possibly a cap casualty.
I don’t get the concern about the cost og goaltending in Seattle.
Goalies lately have gotten offer of 8-11million making a tandem more costly.
Daccord played 50 games last year! Before that he had played less than10 games a season!Giving him almost a 4 million dollar raise is risky! These goalies getting 8-11 are a lot better than what the Kraken have!
By problem isnt the 11m Kraken is paying, the problem is that at least Grubauer isnt playing like a 6m goalie
The Kracken
They look like a bubble team floating around 8th if they are lucky to 12th…..
they have one star up front in …Matthew Beniers & have Shane Wright up this year who know what he will do….â
Jordan Eberle there captian is 34… then they have a bunch of older 2nd line & 3rd line forwards
Vince Dunn & new signing Brandon Montour are top 2 d/men….after that they have Larson but not much help coming in the next few years…..
The Kracken look like a bubble team missing the playoff for the next few Years…đ€
Weâll take Liljegren (sp?)
Liljegren for the esteemed Grzelcyk ???
Booooyah!
How about Liljegren straight up for Sid and Pittsburgh retains 50% of Sid`s salary, if you want to talk stupid
The unfortunate thing about Liljegren with the Leafs is theyâre concentrating on what he isnât instead of what he is.
He is the second best puck mover on the team behind Rielly.
His confidence is shot because just when he was playing well last year he got I hired by MarchandâŠitâs worth noting that none of his teammates served any retribution towards Marchand for the hit.
He isnât big. He isnât a banger. He wasnât drafted by this regime.
He is a good skater. He is a good puck mover. He has consistently won his minutes over the course of his 196 NHL career.
Sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh set of eyes will help a player flourishâŠperfect example is Gustav Forsling⊠or Carter Verhaege
@ Daryl
U R absolutely correct
He is a RD as well , but I am boggled why the Leafs signed him for 2 years, at 3MIL / Per
I am so happy the Leafs didnât give up on Robertson
On another note – Montembeault in Montreal
Canadians may of hit the âjackpotâ with this guy
I am sure they are going to steal a few games this year with him tending the pipes ..
Caufield , Hudson , their Russian pick this year – good things on the horizon for Les Habs , but No Danny Gallivan – what an exciting announcer ..
Maybe make their logo – Make Habs Great Again âŠ
Although a Leaf fan , Montreal is exciting when they are contending âŠ
@ Yogi to 87
Trade Liljegren straight up for Crosby – Penguins retain 50%
đđđđđ€Łđ„čđ€
Ken,
The Habs motto has always been
âTo you from failing hands we throw the torch be yours to hold it highâ
And in French:
âNos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau Ă vous toujours de le porter bien hautâ
Cold day in hell before it’s replaced by some paraphrased con man’s bs.
Well, they may have adopted it as their motto, but its origin is from John McRae’s immortal WW !poem In Flanders Fields
Ken Liljegren got that contract because he would’ve gotten that if he went to arbitration if not more. I don’t think Treliving’s intention at that time was to trade him
what to do with Lijergen, trade with Kraken for Brandon Tanev
or he goes to the Oilers for a draft pick
Toronto (along with Montreal) may be the two toughest cities to play in, in the NHL.
It looks like Liljegrenâs confidence is shot.
He has all the skills to be a good RHD and possibly a top 4 defenseman.
A move to a new team, with far less pressure might see him blossom into the player Leafs hoped he would become.
Dubas/Hunter drafted him and I wouldnât be surprised to see Liljegren end up in Pittsburg.
If not Pittsburgh, Columbus has lots of cap space.
Currently heâd be behind letang and karlson. Too much money for a third pair. Unless yall think you can rehabilitate graves đ