The Los Angeles Kings are reportedly making a strong push to acquire Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Igor Shesterkin from the New York Rangers.
The Kings have been facing goaltending issues for years, and they’re now targeting one of the NHL’s top goalies to address the problem.
While the Rangers have been trying to secure a long-term deal with Shesterkin, the star goaltender recently rejected what would have been the highest contract offer for a goalie in NHL history. This has created uncertainty around his future, though it is still unclear if the Rangers are prepared to trade him. Despite this, rival teams are already putting together substantial trade offers, with the Kings emerging as a top contender with significant interest in the Russian netminder.
A report from Hockey Buzz, quoting a source, mentions that the Kings are preparing a massive trade offer and are willing to offer Shesterkin an eight-year maximum extension. While this isn’t considered collusion, as teams often communicate with player agents, Shesterkin’s rejection of the Rangers’ offer suggests he knows there are other teams willing to go even higher.
If the uncertainty continues, the Rangers may be forced to consider trading Shesterkin, especially with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. Shesterkin has been outstanding during his time in New York, with a 136-59-17 record, a 2.42 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage, ranking him among the league’s best.
At this moment, there’s no indication that a trade or contract extension is imminent, but with the Kings holding valuable young prospects, a blockbuster deal could be on the horizon if the situation in New York remains unresolved.
