On the same day they sent former captain Jacob Trouba packing to Anaheim, the Rangers and Igor Shesterkin agreed to a new contract extension that’ll keep him in the Big Apple for the next eight years. Elliotte Friedman broke the story on Twitter/X.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Rangers and Shesterkin made it official. It’s an eight-year, $92 million contract with a full no-movement clause. That’s an $11.5 million cap hit. At the start of 2025-26, Shesterkin will become the richest goalie in NHL history.

Previously, it was the Canadiens’ Carey Price. He had a $10.5 million cap hit. Injuries derailed a brilliant career. He’s been on long-term injured reserve since 2021-22. The contract was through 2025-26. That’s the downside of committing long-term to a goalie. It’s always risky to pay a star player top dollar into their thirties. Shesterkin will be 29 in Year 1 of the deal. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and perform up to the high standard he’s set for himself.

A 2014 fourth round selection the Rangers took with the number 118 pick, Shesterkin has established himself as one of the league’s best goalies. After a great start to his career by winning 10 of his first 12 starts with a 2.52 goals-against-average (GAA), and .932 save percentage during the Covid abbreviated 2019-20 season, he went 16-14-3 with a 2.62 GAA, .916 save percentage, and two shutouts during his rookie year in 2020-21. Shesterkin finished fifth for the Calder Trophy in a strong rookie class highlighted by Calder winner Kirill Kaprizov, Jason Robertson, Josh Norris, Tim Stutzle, and close Russian friend Ilya Sorokin.

It was in his first full season that he put together a memorable campaign. In 2021-22, Shesterkin went 36-13-4 in 53 appearances while leading the league in GAA (2.07), and save percentage (.935), along with a career best six shutouts. That outstanding performance saw him win the Vezina Trophy and finish third for the Hart Trophy.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Shesterkin helped lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final. After a tough first round against the Penguins, he took control to backstop the Rangers past the Hurricanes in the second round. Shesterkin was at his best over the last two games, stopping 74 of 78 shots to send the Blueshirts to a second straight seven-game series triumph.

Facing fellow Russian Andrei Vasilevskiy, it was the younger netminder who had his team in strong position by taking the first two games of the Conference Final. But the Lightning used their championship experience to come back and take the series in six. Shesterkin played well in defeat. He didn’t get enough run support. The Rangers were outscored 12-4 over the final four games.

In 2022-23, he found it hard to match that special 2021-22 season. However, he still won a career high 37 games while posting a 2.48 GAA, .916 save percentage, and three shutouts. Unfortunately, the team didn’t have similar success getting ousted by the Hudson rival Devils in the first round. It was an uneven series that saw them blow a 2-0 series lead. The lack of adjustments led to coach Gerard Gallant’s dismissal.

Under the guidance of Peter Laviolette, the Rangers put together a great 2023-24 by winning the Presidents’ Trophy. Following an inconsistent first half, Shesterkin played much better following the All-Star break. Laviolette leaned on Jonathan Quick to give his ace some much needed time off to mentally reset. He performed more like one an elite goalie over the last three months. Able to ride the momentum into the postseason, Shesterkin was the difference in a second round rematch against the Hurricanes. When things got interesting, he delivered the clutch stops to help the Rangers defeat the Hurricanes in six to set up an Eastern Conference Final against the Panthers.

The biggest difference in the series was the Panthers’ superior play at five-on-five. Their penalty kill also shut down the Rangers’ power play. At times, the ice was tilted. But Shesterkin did his best to keep his team in it. It took the Panthers six games to eliminate the Rangers. It was the brilliant play of Shesterkin that left Florida coach Paul Maurice heaping praise on the Rangers’ backstop. He basically called his performance one of the best he’s seen. It was well-deserved.

Entering the final year of a contract with a $5.67 million cap hit, the 28-year-old Shesterkin wanted to be paid like a top goalie. When the Rangers leaked the negotiations prior to the season opener, Shesterkin’s camp was upset. Along with a tumultuous off-season that included Barclay Goodrow claimed on waivers by the Sharks and Jacob Trouba turning down a trade, there were a lot of distractions to start 2024-25.

Despite some unsteady play, Shesterkin held up his end by getting off to a fast start. Eventually, the lack of defense caught up to him. The continued distraction with Trouba becoming a lame duck captain really hurt the team. He didn’t play well. Neither did a select number of key veterans. That resulted in Shesterkin struggling as well. It all came to a head on Friday, Dec. 6 when Trouba was traded to the Ducks. On that same day, Shesterkin agreed to remain a Ranger over the long haul.

Even with the team continuing to underperform, with a lousy 7-5 loss to the Kraken on Sunday, Shesterkin decided that he wanted to stay put. He reportedly left money on the table. The contract includes over $58 million in signing bonuses. It’s a huge committment being made by the Rangers. A full NMC means that Shesterkin will hold all the cards throughout the duration of the contract.

It’s eerily similar to when Henrik Lundqvist was signed. Ironically, that deal was announced around the same time. The Rangers signed him to a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension on Dec. 4, 2013. He became the highest paid goalie with an $8.5 million cap hit.

After leading the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014, Lundqvist helped guide them to the seventh game of the 2015 Conference Finals. The Lightning would spoil the chance of back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.

From that point, the core of the team started to decline. As they became worse, Lundqvist wasn’t the same either. Eventually, he played his final game for the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Qualifying Round in 2020. After signing with the Capitals, he had open-heart surgery in January 2021 due to pericarditis. Despite returning to practice, Lundqvist decided not to return to the Capitals. He announced his retirement from hockey in Aug. 20, 2021.

Nobody can predict what will happen with Shesterkin. He blows out the candles on his 29th birthday on Dec. 30. If the Rangers continue to struggle, more changes could come.

On a day when he left the team to be with his wife for the arrival of their second baby, the Rangers embarrassed themselves again on home ice. Quick suffered the ugly defeat. If he’s back for Monday, then it’ll likely be Shesterkin to face the Blackhawks tomorrow night. At 2-2-0 on the current five-game homestand, they can’t lose to them. Can they? Hopefully for their sake, they remember to show up.