Rangers star ‘so happy right now’ after birth of daughter, massive contract extension
It’s good to be Igor Shesterkin most days. But it’s really good to be the 28-year-old New York Rangers goalie these days.
On Sunday, Shesterkin and his wife welcomed a second child, a baby daughter, into their family. And that came one day after he and the Rangers made official a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history.
“I’m so happy right now,” Shesterkin said Monday after New York’s morning skate ahead of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden.
To be fair, Shesterkin was speaking about the birth of his daughter. But he’s certainly very happy that his eight-year, $92 million contract that will pay him $11.5 million annually beginning next season is finally finalized, too.
“Like I said this means a lot for me. I think it wasn’t going to be easy — my agent told me it was hard negotiations, but I didn’t care about that,” he explained. “To be honest, it was pretty hard to take all this noise, but everything happened right now, everything is done and I can be ready for a game and be focused.”
By “noise,” Shesterkin referred to negative commentary and remarks about him seeking to become the richest goalie all-time in the NHL despite his recent struggles and the Rangers 2-7-0 record the past nine games.
“Sometimes it was pretty hard, especially after bad games,” Shesterkin said. “You just try to go to the next day. But it follows you and everyone talks about it.”
Shesterkin has lost five of his previous six starts, but is coming off a solid showing in a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. He didn’t play Sunday in a 7-5 loss to the Seattle Kraken to be with his wife, but will start Monday against the Blackhawks.
On the season, he is 9-9-1 with a 2.99 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.
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Igor Shesterkin says Rangers ‘will try to bring [Stanley] Cup back to New York’ during his tenure
Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy as top NHL goalie in 2021-22, led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final in two of the past three seasons. His career numbers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (23-20, 2.41 GAA, .928 save percentage) is a big reason why the Rangers believed it was worth making the massive commitment to Shesterkin.
Not only is he among the best goalies in the game, he’s among the most fiercely competitive and driven.
“We will try to bring the Cup back to New York,” he said.
Certainly, having Shesterkin happy, comfortable and locked up for nine seasons, including this one, is a good feeling for Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.
“He’s a big piece of our team,” Laviolette said Monday. “He’s proven to be one of the top goaltenders. So, I think having him under contract with the New York Rangers for several years is a real positive.”
Now, he will do his best to help set the Rangers on the right track once again. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season and starting this one 5-0-1, the Rangers are 9-11-0 in their past 20 games. Many of their defensive issues were glossed over early on by Shesterkin’s brilliance in goal; but the team hit hard times when both Shesterkin and backup Jonathan Quick came back down to earth with their play.
Quick has now allowed 15 goals in his past three starts, including six on 21 shots (with one empty-net goal) Sunday.
Shesterkin is back in there against the NHL-worst Blackhawks on Monday in the second of a back-to-back set for the Rangers. Chicago has scored 65 goals, third fewest in the NHL.
Expect a massive ovation for Shesterkin when introduced at MSG before the start of the game Monday. The Blueshirts Faithful love their goalie. And the feeling is mutal.
“I just want to thank all Rangers fans because they support us so hard and we will play for them, play for our families.”
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