Rangers takeaway for Igor Shesterkin after Leon Draisaitl signs massive Oilers deal

NHL: New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers
Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Rangers likely were never going to sign Leon Draisaitl as a free agent next summer. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t pay close attention when Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers hammered out a massive contract extension, which was finalized Tuesday.

That’s because the Rangers have their own superstar to re-sign before he can become an unrestricted free agent next July 1.

So, even though comparing Igor Shesterkin to Draisaitl is not exactly apples to apples, there are enough similarities here for the Rangers to learn a thing or two.

It starts with that each 28-year-old is among the best in the world at his position. Shesterkin is, arguably, the best goalie in the NHL. The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner sure looked the part carrying the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final last spring. And Draisaitl is just about the best forward on the planet. Or at least in the conversation with his Oilers teammate Connor McDavid after three straight 100-point seasons and triple-digit points in five of the past six seasons.

Each player is a cornerstone for the team that selected him in the 2014 NHL Draft. Draisaitl professed love and loyalty today for the only NHL team he’s played for. Shesterkin certainly has expressed similar sentiments about New York and the Rangers in the past.

And had they both reached free agency July 1, there’s a good chance they’d be the two most attractive options on the open market, along with Mitchell Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche (assuming Sidney Crosby is a lock to re-up with the Pittsburgh Penguins).

Then there’s the money. Draisaitl received an eight-year contract worth $112 million. That averages to an NHL record $14 million per season. No other player will earns as much annually as Draisaitl when the extension kicks in for the 2025-26 season.

Shesterkin? He’s reportedly aiming to be the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. That would mean topping Carey Price and his $10.5 million AAV. Perhaps that number creeps north of $12 million per season on a long-term deal.

Like the Rangers, the Oilers are up against the salary cap. Plus, McDavid, Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse will need new deals within a year. The Rangers need to sign Shesterkin and then get Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller signed before they can become restricted free agents with arbitration rights next summer.

But there’s a key takeaway for the Rangers in how the Oilers conducted their business with Draisaitl despite bumping up against the cap.

Related: Igor Shesterkin tops list of 2025 NHL free-agent goalies

Rangers can learn from Oilers signing Leon Draisaitl to massive contract

NHL: New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

“Players like Leon are special,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman explained Tuesday. “There’s not many players in the world that can play hockey like he does. There’s no way we could ever replace what Leon brings to the table. … For me, there was never a question (about signing Draisaitl).”

Though goalies are typically not valued as highly as great skaters — forwards, in particular — Rangers general manager Chris Drury should have that same line of thinking about Shesterkin as Bowman does with Draisaitl.

You have, arguably, the best player at his position in the NHL. Don’t overthink it. Get a deal done.

Of course, it’s not that simple. There are negotiations, and the GM of any team most definitely is looking for some kind of financial concession to be able to build around his superstar player(s).

But in the end, get the deal done and figure out the rest.

“Certainly, there are going to be challenges in the future but that’s for us to figure out down the road,” Bowman stated. “I think right now, the most important thing was to make sure that, No. 1, he wanted to be in Edmonton — and that’s something we should all focus on, as well … we’ll figure out the rest down the road. But now, just thrilled that he’s with us.”

We might hear similar comments made by Drury in the coming weeks since one would have to believe the Rangers want to get an extension in place before the 2024-25 season begins.

However, team and player could be waiting to see how Jeremy Swayman’s contract drama plays out with the Boston Bruins. Again, this isn’t quite apples to apples, but Swayman is looking at a significant raise, and is an intriguing top-end goalie comparable to Shesterkin.

Right now, Swayman is not under contract for this season and remains an RFA. He’s not eligible to be a UFA until 2026. But the sides are working on a big contract, and not one that would simply walk him into free agency.

Shesterkin is three years older and has proven more in the NHL than Swayman, who will be an uncontested No. 1 for the first time in the NHL this season following the trade of his partner Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators.

In the end, Shesterkin deserves — and will get — a lot more on his next contract than Swayman. But he’ll likely want to see what the 25-year-old’s deal looks like before he puts pen to paper on his own contract with the Rangers.

That said, the bottom line takeaway for the Rangers from the big Draisaitl news Tuesday remains that it is an absolute priority to sign Shesterkin.

Then figure out the rest later.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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