NHL Rumors: Igor Shesterkin, Rangers Discuss Contract to Be Highest-Paid Goalie Ever

Igor Shesterkin is entering the final season of his current contract, but the New York Rangers are reportedly willing to make him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history to keep him in the Big Apple.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Tuesday the Rangers "indicated to Shesterkin's camp" they are open to paying him more than $10.5 million per year, which was Carey Price's record-setting number for a goalie contract.

That would also be quite the increase over the $6.7 million in base salary he is set to make in 2024-25 after making $5 million in base salary last season.

The Rangers being interested in handing out a record-setting contract should come as no surprise.

After all, Shesterkin is 28 years old and theoretically will remain at his peak for the immediate future. This is also a team in the middle of a win-now window after reaching the Eastern Conference Final in two of the last three seasons.

Keeping the star goaltender in place while players such as Artemi Panarin lead the offensive efforts is the best way to potentially take the next step and reach the Stanley Cup Final and perhaps even lift the sport's coveted trophy.

It also helps Shesterkin's bargaining power that he is on the short list of the best goalies in the league.

He took home the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie with league-best marks in save percentage (93.5) and goals against average (2.07) and was also an All-Star in each of the last two seasons.

Shesterkin finished last season with a 36-17-2 record, .912 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.58. He was even better in the playoffs with a .926 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.34.

The one thing missing from his resume at this point is a Stanley Cup, and he could look to change that on a record-setting contract.