There are a few paths for the Igor situation. If they come to an agreement, the Rangers will end up with cap issues. The fact the the NHL cap moves up in such small increments and there are no exemptions makes overpaying a goalie a big risk. If they trade him (tiny chance) they lose a HOF goalie. But, if they trade him, maybe whatever they get back gets them closer to a Cup. Unfortunately, as we saw with Hank, the HOF goalie can only get you so far. Sometimes it is more important to have a hot goalie at the end of the season to get near the cup vs a HOF goalie.
1 Cup in 86 years
2048
Since 2003 Vasilevsky and Quick are the two stud goalies to win unless you count Fleury. The rest not so much. So cup wins are possible with adequate goaltending, and more importantly your goalie not costing you. Rangers have been there with cap issues building a team around the leagues highest paid goalie. Funny I was thinking earlier this morning maybe the best move is a trade, to a Western Conference team the Rangers bet, won't be a team they might meet in the finals. And a team that locks him into a max long term NO TRADE DEAL, so that team doesn't flip him to worst case nightmare Philly, Jersey or the Island. You still run the risk of him getting hot and his new team goes on a run. But its very unlikely. Last goalie to put a team on his back and do it was probably Roy in 1993.
But A the Rangers would need that adequate goalie to replace him now, and B the trade return for Shestorokin would have to be spectacular and a combination of now and future goodies. And it has to be sooner rather than later. Because as the season rolls along his value, unless he gets locked up is going to drastically decrease. Not to mention the cap logistics of a new team acquiring him.
So its probably not happening, and as the clock ticks its forcing the Rangers into a max contract, unless and highly unlikely Shestorokin approves a discount.
Sadly, there's no cap space. Even with a Trouba buyout at end of season, there's no way to pay Shesty what he's now worth. Lafreniere, Miller and Jones are RFA's who are going to want raises. Lindgren is UFA, so even if you kiss Shesty and his $5.7 mil goodbye and promote Garand, we are probably saying goodbye to Lindgren too.
Sadly, there's no cap space. Even with a Trouba buyout at end of season, there's no way to pay Shesty what he's now worth. Lafreniere, Miller and Jones are RFA's who are going to want raises. Lindgren is UFA, so even if you kiss Shesty and his $5.7 mil goodbye and promote Garand, we are probably saying goodbye to Lindgren too.
I agree Eddie, Drury has a lot to think about. Could this be the last run with Shesty then a low yield trade to a team that will give him everything he wants, after the parade and before July 1.
Shesterkin has reportedly rejected an 8x$11M offer from the Rangers
Shesterkin has reportedly rejected an 8x$11M offer from the Rangers
Drury making sure the news got out?