The New York Rangers made National Hockey League headlines on Saturday. One day after trading captain Jacob Trouba of Rochester, Michigan to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen of Joensuu, Finland and a fourth round pick in the 2025 National Hockey League Entry Draft, the Rangers made goaltender Igor Shesterkin of Moscow, Russia the highest paid goaltender in National Hockey League history. Shesterkin signed an eight year contract extension worth $92 million, that will start in the 2025-26 season and go through to 2032-33. This means that Shesterkin will make on average $11.5 million per season. Shesterkin is making $5.7 million this season.
Who was the highest paid goalie?
The answer was Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price of Vancouver, British Columbia. Price was making $10.5 million per season when he signed an eight year deal worth $84 million on July 2, 2017. However, Price has not played since the 2021-22 season due to a knee injury and attending the NHL/National Hockey League Players’ Association Player Assistance Program. The program is for players dealing with substance abuse, mental health and other challenges. In 2023, Price and his family moved to British Columbia.
Shesterkin’s 2024-25 NHL statistics
In 2024-25, Shesterkin has a record of nine wins, nine regulation losses, and one loss in extra time. He has a goals against average of 2.99, save percentage of .908, and one shutout. The shutout came in the Rangers’s first game of the season, a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shesterkin made 31 saves.
Accolades with the Rangers
Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2021-22. He led the NHL in save percentage (.935), and goals against average (2.07). Shestrkin also had a career-high six shutouts. In the last two years, Shesterkin was a NHL All-Star.
Seventh in the East
The Rangers currently have a record of 14 wins, 10 regulation losses and one loss in extra time. They have 29 points, and lead the Philadelphia Flyers by one point for a playoff spot.
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