Igor Shesterkin's Latest Contract Extension Takes An Unexpected Turn Ahead Of The Rangers 2025-26 Season

Igor Shesterkin is a former Vezina Trophy winner in the NHL and has truly earned the title as one of the elite goaltenders in the league. However, after becoming the highest-paid goalie there will a ton of expectations from fans and management to bounce back during the 2025-26 season.

Unfortunately, last season it seemed to be a trend as all New York Rangers players would take a step back, including Shesterkin.

For the Rangers, they expect the most out of him, considering he's their highest-paid goalie, and when he's at his best could take the team to the playoffs.

But now, the team needs him to deliver on his perceived $11.5 million AAV value, a value that pays him even more than the Senators' Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman of the Bruins.

Last season, Shesterkin finished the year with 21.6 GSA%, which ranked fourth best in the NHL. This is a major step back from his 2021-22 Vezina Trophy season, where he posted a 34.1 GSA %. He found a certain level of play that gave him success, but the team in front wasn't the same that won a Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24.

With a core built to win now and a Stanley Cup-winning coach behind the bench in Mike Sullivan, the Rangers hope that they can make a leap forward back into playoff contention, and Shesterkin needs to play his part.

That'll require a team that practices defense responsibly and takes accountability for its faults.

With Mike Sullivan, whose coached players like Marc-Andre Fleury who's now a Hall of Famer thank to Sullivan's help we could see Shesterkin return to form.