Here's The Maven's opinion on Igor Shesterkin's contract situation.

Put Or Shut Up!

That's the not-so-cryptic message Igor Shesterkin is delivering to Blueshirts GM Chris Drury.

Or, to put it another way, before opening night, the MSG bankers must deliver a contract number that Iggy's handlers like, or there shall be no further deal-making through the season.

It's a simple equation; Drury must surrender as follows. Give the goalie a $12 million long-term deal or forget about it.

The Maven does not give a damn what "industry sources" say, which is that Iggy should break the MSG bank at 12 mil and too bad about how it will torpedo the Rangers Salary Cap.

Which means that Drury had better play hard-low-ball with Czar Greedyguts who erroneously believes he's the Rangers one and only savior. He definitely is not.

This goalie, who never has won a Stanley Cup, is not worth 12 mil nor 11 mil. If Drury wants to do the right thing for his team, he'll not go one ruble over 10 mil.

Frankly, I'd stop at the $8.7 million mark which Sidney Crosby happily agreed to the other day with his new Pitt deal.

Also, I want to offer you an unoriginal but delectable thought:

Ship Shesterkin and Jacob Trouba to Winnipeg and get Connor Hellebuyck for the long term.

One more thing about Trouba and his I Love New York cheery homilies, The reality is that after the summer of trade-no-trade nonsense, his captaincy is in jeopardy.

Also, his comment about having to win The Cup this year simply indicates he's got one foot out the door.

My favorite consultant, Gus Vic, does have a solution: "If the Rangers win big at the start and stay at the top, all will be forgotten and forgiven."

P.S. Not if Shesterkin refuses to budge off his demands!