Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin could make a similar move for Jalen Brunson

The New York Rangers and superstar goalie Igor Shesterkin may be trying to follow the example of New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson, who signed a contract extension with a lower salary so the team can build a stronger roster in the future.

The move would give the Rangers more financial flexibility to build a stronger team. Both Brunson and Shesterkin play for New York teams owned by James Dolan, but it is unclear whether the goalie would offer Dolan a discount.

Brunson did just that, however, when he accepted a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension, turning down a potential $269.1 million max contract if he waited a year to sign the extension.

Shesterkin is a superstar like Brunson and could sign one of the biggest, most inflated contracts in NHL history. However, the Russian could be looking for a record-breaking deal worth as much as $12 million per year, according to a June 2 report by Mollie Walker of The New York Post.

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Details on Brunson’s contract extension and its impact on the Knicks’ future

Back to Brunson’s extension, the contract is worth $156.5 million over four seasons and begins with the 2025-26 season. Brunson is forgoing $113 million to give the Knicks more financial breathing room.

Additionally, league executives believe more players will follow Brunson’s logic in the future and sign cheaper contracts to help their teams, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

“As salaries continue to rise ahead of the league’s $76 billion television deal that begins in the 2025-26 season, league executives in Vegas have theorized that some players could follow Brunson’s lead to help their teams navigate the constraints of the new CBA,” Bontemps reported July 18.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski explained Brunson’s deal once it was officially announced.

“The implications of Brunson opting for a four-year, $156.5 million maximum contract instead of a five-year, $269 million contract in 2025 are enormous for the Knicks’ ability to remain relevant — and to continue making roster moves to close the gap on their way to a championship,” Wojnarowski wrote on X on July 12.

“The deal — which will cost Brunson $37.1 million over the next three years — comes with a fourth-year player option, (Brunson’s agent Sam) Rose said, and that would see Brunson get the remainder of his $113 million back in a four-year, $323 million extension in 2028 or a new five-year, $418 million contract in 2029,” Wojnarowski reported.

According to Wojnarowski, Brunson made his decision after studying the contract extensions of other superstars that were changing the league.

“Brunson’s research into championship organizations and franchise stars — Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs, Tom Brady’s New England Patriots and Derek Jeter’s New York Yankees — has given him a blueprint for MVP players who craft contracts that give their teams the best chance to consistently win championships,” Wojnarowski reported.

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Rangers player Igor Shesterkin expected to sign new contract

According to multiple reports, Shesterkin is expected to seek a record-breaking contract extension that could be worth as much as $12 million annually.

If the Russian goalie signs such a large contract, it would surpass the current highest AAVs for NHL goalies, with Carey Price at $10.5 million, Sergei Bobrovsky at $10 million and Andrei Vasilevskiy at $9.5 million.

“With their season now over, the New York Rangers will soon begin formal contract talks with Igor Shesterkin’s team regarding a contract extension,” David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period wrote on June 3. “He has one year left on his current deal and is expected to become the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history.”

According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, who was a guest on the Forever Blueshirts podcast on July 10, Shesterkin’s representatives are reportedly considering a deal that would represent 14 percent of his projected $92 million salary cap in 2025-26, with an annualized value of approximately $12.9 million.

That contract would make Shesterkin the second-highest-paid player (not just a goalie) in the NHL, behind Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs at $13.25 million annually.

Shesterkin, in particular, is having a stellar season, posting a .926 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average. He also faced 524 shots in 16 postseason games and saved 485 of them, resulting in a 13.1 goals-against average, which was above his expected average, according to MoneyPuck.