Igor Shesterkin must now prove he’s worth it to Rangers in risky contract gambit

On the eve of opening night for the Rangers, word spread that the Rangers had offered Igor Shesterkin an extension that would make him the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history — and he rejected it. 

Oct. 9 had somewhat served as a loose deadline before negotiations would be viewed as an unwanted distraction, which evidently prompted both sides to engage in recent days. 

This report from ESPN’s Kevin Weekes that an eight-year, $88 million offer was made the day before the season begins, however, has added an intriguing element to the situation. 

Industry sources indicate that Shesterkin’s camp isn’t pleased by an apparent leak that was presumably designed to put pressure on Shesterkin. The numbers reported — including an $11 million average annual value — have not been confirmed by The Post. 

There is no reason to believe that discussions will not continue, even past Wednesday’s season-opener in Pittsburgh. There is no reason to panic, even though Shesterkin remains unsigned despite an offer. 

Look no further than the club just under 220 miles north for comfort. 

Jeremy Swayman held out of the Bruins training camp before Boston general manager Cam Neely came out and said there were 64 million reasons why he’d be playing, which prompted Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, to release a statement saying no such offer had been made and expressing their disappointment. Rumors arose that Swayman pondered asking for a trade. 

Less than a week later, Swayman signed an eight-year, $66 million deal with the Bruins. 

If Swayman and his representation were looking to reset the goalie market, Shesterkin and his camp are looking to redefine it. 

Hypothetically speaking, if this $88 million offer were made by the Rangers, Shesterkin would be set to make $11 million a year until he’s 36. That’s $500,000 more a year and $4 million more overall than the Canadiens’ Carey Price, who almost 10 years ago became the first goalie to win the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy and Ted Lindsay Trophy in one year since Dominik Hasek in 1998. 

It would’ve accounted for 11.9 percent of next season’s projected $92 million cap. 

Setting a contract record and a new standard for goalies was always the expectation for Shesterkin, whose .921 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average is good for second in the NHL since he entered the league in 2019-20 among goalies with at least 150 appearances. 

Becoming the highest paid Ranger might not be the focus, but the 2022 Vezina Trophy-winning goalie may feel entitled to the title. 

The best and most important player commanding the highest paycheck is not outlandish thinking. The Rangers have never been shy about crediting a bulk of their success to Shesterkin in net, so why would Shesterkin be shy about demanding what he feels that’s worth? 

President and general manager Chris Drury would have to offer at least $11.7 million, which is only $57,143 more than what Artemi Panarin makes per year, in order to satisfy that. 

For those counting at home, that would be 12.9 percent of the cap. Panarin, by the way, accounted for 14.29 percent of the cap at the start of his seven-year, $81.5 million deal. 

So here begins Shesterkin’s Leap of Faith. 

You know who was also upset about an offer leak going into a contract year? Aaron Judge. Perhaps Shesterkin can mirror the Yankees captain, who two years ago turned down an eight-year, $230.5 million extension from the Yankees before turning in a historic American League MVP-worthy season. 

Judge suddenly had 129.5 million extra reasons to confirm why betting on himself was the right thing. 

I imagine Shesterkin would’ve jumped at $230.5 million, but the NHL’s lack of financial parity to the other pro sports leagues is a column topic for another day. We’re talking about $88 million here, which is $8 million shy of the $12 million average annual value The Post had identified as Shesterkin’s target AAV the day after the 2023-24 season ended. 

A discrepancy of $1 million per year is not worth losing a franchise goalie over, but it does set a unique scene in New York ahead of a season that is already starting in a pressure cooker. 

Shesterkin must now play like a $12 million goalie. He must deliver on this price tag he has set for himself. 

Even if you want to make the argument that he has since making his NHL debut on Jan. 7, 2020, which can be drawn more from the Rangers reliance on their No. 1 goalie than his overall statistics, Shesterkin is going to be a focal point of this NHL season as he works toward this consequential new deal. 

Considering how much leverage Shesterkin already had in these negotiations, it can only diminish or skyrocket from here. A slow start, a rough patch or a major injury — three things that are never out of the realm of possibility — would only work against him. 

Shesterkin could also be lights out and drive the price up even higher. 

It all begins Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena, where Shesterkin’s old friends, Penguins fans, will surely be wishing him good luck on the season ahead.