New York Rangers and Igor Shesterkin Don’t Want Contract to Be a Distraction

Igor Shesterkin and Rangers Don’t Want Talks to Be a Distraction

Season Four’s Dave Pagnotta was on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Steve Kouleas and Martin Biron for the Power Play segment. When asked about Igor Shesterkin’s situation with the New York Rangers, he said both sides did not want contract negotiations to become a distraction.

Writing for NHLRumors.com

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Steve Kouleas: “Another story line that attracts the Rangers now, the Devils are chasing them, or chasing the Devils.” Officially they are now chasing the Devils because the Rangers haven’t played yet. So where are you? You know, kind of the new fourth line. Reilly Smith is in. There are injury problems at the moment. It is obvious that they will be injured at the beginning of the year. And the cloud everyone is talking about is Igor Shesterkin. Is that going to be an $11 or $12 million distraction right now? Mr. Pagnotta.”

David Pagnotta: “I mean, they don’t want it to be a distraction. He doesn’t want it to be a distraction. The group doesn’t do that. So we’ll see where that goes. I think everything I’ve heard about this is going to be around the 12 million mark, if it doesn’t start in 12 and a term, you know, it’s going to be a long time.

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Will it be a full eight that will ultimately depend on the number? I think they discussed a lot of different scenarios here, but, I mean, the goal is obviously to keep him locked in. The guards know he’s their man, and they can’t really afford to break up with him anytime soon. You know if you can play a full season and let him go as a free agent, that’s a big problem for him, they know they can’t do that.

That growth is what Shesterkin and his camp have right now. That’s exactly it. So, I think there’s, there’s going to be some give and take, and there’s going to be a little bit of give and take, but he’s going to be the highest-paid goalie in NHL history in terms of AAV, based on that term. Finally I will say the total amount.

But can we reach the state of eight times 12? I think, I think they were really pushing New York to get something starting at 12. Again, it will depend on the term. But there was an idea that, once the season starts, we don’t want to, you know, we want to focus on the year and hunt for talks.

NHL Rumors: Expect New York Rangers to Sign Igor Shesterkin Long Term

That’s what the agents say. So let Igor focus on his game and let Drury and company handle the agents. And if they don’t get something in the middle of the season, I can see a situation where they shut things down because it will go down in the second half. You want to focus on things.

So, I don’t think today (Wednesday) was a definite deadline. I think they can continue the negotiations, maybe, you see, in the next couple of weeks, if they can fire something, but if it doesn’t happen immediately.

But they don’t want this to be a distraction. This is a team fighting for cups. That’s what they want to focus on. Is Igor locked into an extension now or later? I don’t think it matters to them.”