Evaluating the role: How Shestyorkin signed the record contract in NHL history

The other day Russian Rangers goalie Igor Shestyorkin officially became the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. The agreement with the 28-year-old Russian is for eight years, for which he will earn $92 million (with an average annual salary of $11.5 million), according to the official website of the League. The contract will come into effect from the new season. Among Russians playing in the NHL, only Igor's teammate Artemi Panarin receives more ($11.65 million).

Discount to loved ones

Earlier there was information that the goalie refused a contract for the same term with a salary of half a million a year less. At the same time, Shestyorkin did not enter the free agent market, where he could well get $12 million, or even $13 million a year. Considering that the salary ceiling rises from season to season, many clubs could have offered more. But Shesterkin discounted the Rangers, where he grew into one of the best goalies in the world.

Perhaps it was the contract issue that hindered psychologically Shestyorkin, who hasn't played well in recent games. "The Rangers traded defenseman Jacob Trouba to Anaheim to make room under the salary cap, because in addition to Shestyorkin's contract, the team's main young star Alexis Lafreniere ($7.45 million per year) will be under contract next season.

The Rangers' championship window is just opening. Shesterkin, Zibanejad, Lafreniere, Fox, Lindgren, Hietil, Kakko, Trocheck, and even 33-year-old Kreider and Panarin are in their prime. The team's defense in general is very young: eight of the main defensemen, including Finn Vaakanainen, who received his first-round pick for Trouba, are between the ages of 22 and 26. So Shesterkin's choice in favor of the Rangers is easily explainable.

- Igor has earned a new contract with his play in the NHL," said former Russian national team coach Vladimir Pluschev in a conversation with Izvestia. - He really is one of the best goalies in the league. However, the fact that his new agreement was a record-breaking one speaks more about coincidence. With NHL contracts growing every year, general managers are realizing how important the role of a strong goaltender is in the fight for the Stanley Cup.

The role of the goaltender in a cup hike has tended to be underestimated in recent years. Sure, there's the impact of the championship-winning Vegas team winning the Stanley Cup with Hill, the team's fourth goalie at the time. But there's also the example of Florida, which Sergei Bobrovsky dragged to the finals twice (once to a winning goal). And it was his play in Game 7 of the final series against Edmonton that was the deciding factor in the success.

Shestyorkin is not prone to serious injuries: the Russian goalie has played 209 games over the past three seasons. And now there's nothing to distract him from what he's been confidently doing all the years he's been with the Rangers - dragging the team to the coveted Cup.

Only Ovechkin and Kovalchuk got more than that

Shesterkin's new contract is a repeat of the seventh-highest among current and future agreements. Sweden's Erik Karlsson and William Nylander get the same amount. A record $112 million from the summer of 2024 is next to Leon Draisaitl's name, but the German's contract will also take effect next season.

In terms of average annual salary ($11.5 million) next season, the Russian goalie will share the seventh-highest salary in the entire league, behind only compatriot Artemi Panarin. The forward will receive almost $143k more until the summer of 2027.

Shestyorkin's $92 million is the third highest amount in history for Russian players in the NHL. Previously, the best goalie contracts were signed by Andrei Vasilevskiy with Tampa ($76 million over eight years) and Sergei Bobrovsky with Florida ($70 million over seven years). The record of Russia and the entire NHL belongs to Alexander Ovechkin, who in 2008 signed a 13-year contract with Washington for $124 million, $100 million over 15 years was to be earned in New Jersey by Ilya Kovalchuk, but returned to Russia in 2013.

With that said, Shestyorkin has steadily topped the historical salary rankings for goalies. Over $70 million was previously given to Vasilevskiy, Bobrovsky, and Carey Price, who was valued by Montreal at $84 million over eight years. Except that the Canadian worked only two and a half seasons. Now there are four Russians in the top-7 (in addition to Ilya Sorokin), two Americans (Rick Dipietro, Jeremy Swyman) and one Canadian (Price).

- "Igor was just great, and his last playoff run was outstanding," commented Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette on the milestone. - The goaltending position is very important, it's nice to not have to worry about it now. He has proven to be one of the best goalies in the league. It's nice that he's now secured that spot for eight years. When it comes to sports in general, there are some really important positions in hockey and goalie is one of them and we are lucky to have one of the best.

Shesterkin has been playing for the Rangers since 2019. In 2022, he won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best regular season goalie. In the current season, the goalie played 19 games, once playing on zero and reflecting 90.8% of shots with a reliability factor of 2.99.