Gosh! The Rangers sure make you feel good, don't they! Pistol Pete Laviolette's lads are in the Met Division's second place; only one point behind New Jersey – but with three big games in hand. Looks good, doesn't it – as long as you don't look too closely. That's because five of those six wins were against non-playoff, very flubby teams. You don't need an electron microscope to realize that both the Capitals and Hurricanes are only a point behind the Blueshirts and each has a game in hand. And with all the fuss about a new Shesterkin contract, Igor has not beaten big boys such as Florida and Washington. Don't kid yourselves, the fans are fully aware of Iggy wanting to be the highest-paid goalie in the league. Igor Shesterkin Has Reportedly Rejected Contract Extension Paying Him $11 Million Per Season "Igor is a keeper," writes Andy Meier of Newburgh, N.Y., "but not for stupid dollars. As long as he's in the ballpark, I say keep him. But if he's looking to top out at the max, then some first round Draft picks and a seasoned goal scoring center will work." Reader Noam Kogen of Manhattan has been a longtime student of goaltending. He suggests that the most recent highest-paid goalie, Carey Price's deal should be what Shesty should get. Before injuries scuttled his career, Price was breezin' along with a breezy eight-year, $84 million deal with a $10,500,000 Cap hit. "Shesterkin should get no more than Price's salary," writes Kogen, "but I think that the Rangers will cave in to him and give him more than $12 million per season. On the other hand, Ideally he should get no more than Sidney Crosby's $8.7 million." Still uncertain is whether Shesty's agent, Max Moliver, and Chris Drury actually are still negotiating or whether talks will be suspended until the season concludes and the goalkeeper becomes a free agent. It's a Manhattan melodrama and none of know how it will end!
