RFA netminder Igor Shesterkin has elected to forego arbitration, declining to file by today’s deadline.  The 25 year old completed his two year Entry Level Contract this past season and was eligible to take his case to an arbiter if so desired.

Oftentimes, players will use the filing as leverage to drive reaolution of contract negotiations, with it typically coming down to the final hours in many cases for a deal to be reached.  With the Russian decking to file, the most likely conclusion to draw is that a deal structure has been worked out, and there is little risk to completing a deal.

indepedent projections and comparatives have put a possible deal in the $5M range with term likely to be in the four year range.  While it has not been seamless, Shesterkin has established himself as the Rangers starter in the near term.

Fellow goalie Adam Huska also decline to file, though in his case he has yet to make his NHL debut and thus has less leverage.