Igor Shesterkin’s Shootout Struggles and Contract Future with the New York Rangers
Igor Shesterkin, widely regarded as one of the NHL’s top goaltenders, has shown remarkable consistency for the New York Rangers. However, there’s one area where even Shesterkin has faced challenges: the shootout. Despite his reputation as a stellar goaltender, Shesterkin’s performance in shootouts has been slightly less dominant compared to his overall game.
To be clear, Shesterkin’s shootout performance is still impressive by most standards. Last season, he recorded a .727 save percentage in shootouts, and during his Vezina Trophy-winning season in 2021-22, that figure was .741. However, in the context of the NHL’s elite goaltenders, Shesterkin ranks 16th in career shootout save percentage. By comparison, Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators leads with a .818 save percentage, followed by Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko at .816, and Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy at .791.
Shesterkin’s shootout record stands at 10-8, with 52 saves on 73 attempts. Despite this, he continues to demonstrate his elite skills in other settings, such as the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, where he stopped all four shooters in a shootout win to help Team Matthews secure victory.
When asked about the most challenging players to face in a shootout, Shesterkin named Sidney Crosby, Jack Hughes, and Nathan MacKinnon. He highlighted Crosby’s ability to make unpredictable moves, making him particularly difficult to stop.
As Shesterkin prepares for his sixth season with the Rangers, his future in New York is a significant talking point. With the ability to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 season, Shesterkin is reportedly seeking a long-term contract that could make him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history, potentially surpassing Carey Price’s $10.5 million annual salary. Rumors suggest his camp might be aiming for a deal that starts at around $13 million per season, which would represent approximately 14 percent of the salary cap.
After a strong playoff performance this past spring, Shesterkin is well-positioned to negotiate a massive contract extension. Whether or not the Rangers and Shesterkin can reach an agreement soon remains a key question, as both sides navigate what could be a historic deal.
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