There is a chance the Rangers could lose both their goalies during the offseason if Chris Drury does not play his cards right.
A couple of months ago Rangers general manager Chris Drury promised that he would sign both Alexis Lafrenière and Igor Shesterkin. He was dead serious and The Maven believed him.
Druy made only half-good, signing Big Al but – months since his promise – Shesty has not had a new pact. What's more, it's becoming apparent that Drury will NOT sign him.
And as long as the weeks and months go by without a new deal, we must assume that Iggy is going to slide into free agency next summer and sign elsewhere.
When – or if – that happens, there's every chance that the Russian stopper will get outrageous bucks, but not from Drury. And, yeah, Iggy may get his wish and become the highest-paid goalie in the NHL.
Shesty's backup, Jonathan Quick, is working on a one-year arrangement and will be 39 next fall. Which means that there's every possibility that Quick will call it a career. That could leave Drury minus a first-rate NHL goalkeeper; think of that!
The Maven's V.P. In Charge of Goaltending Operations, Jess Rubenstein, wonders as well.
"The Rangers goalie situation really is a mess," says Rubenstein. "Louis Domingue will be a UFA after this season and so will another prospective Ranger, Dylan Garand, The big (6-7, 220) Swedish goalie, Hugo Ollas, signed for another season after this one."
Talyn Boyko is another goalie in the system who becomes a RFA after this season. Jess doesn't think he'll return.
"If Shesterkin signs elsewhere – and he just might – you have to wonder what the Rangers will do for a first-class goalie," says The Old Scout. "Could be problems."
Yeah, that's what Rubenstein means when he says that the netminding situation REALLY could be messy next summer.