New York Rangers: Igor Shesterkin decides not to file for arbitration as deadline passes

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers stops a shot in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on April 25, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin was not in the group of 17 players who filed for salary arbitration that was announced on Sunday evening.

The New York Ranger’s lone restricted free agent with arbitration rights, Igor Shesterkin, did not file for salary arbitration per an announcement that was put out on Twitter by the NHLPA on Sunday night.

The process of arbitration as per CapFriendly.com is as follows;

  • Salary arbitration is a contract negotiation method that uses a third-party arbitrator to determine a fair contract term and length for an expiring RFA player. Arbitration can be requested if a player meets the following conditions (CBA Reference 12.1 (b)):
    • The player qualifies as a Restricted Free Agent (RFA).
    • The player has not signed an offer sheet.
    • The player has met the required professional years of experience, as shown in the list below.
    • Eligibility for salary arbitration is dependent on entry-level signing age, and professional experience (CBA Reference 12.1 (a)):
      • 18-20: 4 years professional experience.
      • 21: 3 years professional experience.
      • 22-23: 2 years professional experience.
      • 24 and older: 1-year of professional experience.

      Signing age is the age the player is on September 15 of the year they signed their contract unless they turn 20 from September 16-December 31, in which case they are considered 20.

      A player is considered to have completed a year of professional experience if:
      1. The player is aged 18 or 19 and has played 10 or more NHL games in the respective season
      2. The player is aged 20 or older and has played 10 games in a professional league, while under an NHL SPC.
      Due to the 2019-20 season being shortened by COVID, a pro-rating for the professional games requirement was applied as follows:
      1. If the player is aged 18 or 19 and is considered a Covid Roster Freeze Player, the 10 games requirement was pro-rated to 9 games (pro-rating of 70/82).
      2. If the player is aged 20 or older, the 10 games requirement was pro-rated to 9 games (pro-rating of 70/82).
      Due to the 2020-21 season being shortened, the professional games requirement was pro-rated to 7 games (56/82).

    The list of players who filed for arbitration are;

    Nikita Zadorov CGY
    Dennis Gilbert COL
    Adam Erne DET
    Jakub Vrana DET
    Michael McNiven MTL
    Dante Fabbro NSH
    Juuse Saros NSH
    Adam Pelech NYI
    Victor Mete OTT
    Zach Aston-Reese PIT
    Vince Dunn SEA
    Adin Hill SJS
    Zach Sanford STL
    Ross Colton TBL
    Jason Dickinson VAN
    Andrew Copp WPG
    Neal Pionk WPG

    The deadline for club-elected salary arbitration notification is Aug. 2 at 5 p.m. ET. Hearings will be held from Aug. 11-26.

A Deal May Be Close

The mere fact that Shesterkin avoided filing for arbitration is a good sign for both sides. The decision indicates that Shestterkin’s camp and the Rangers are having fruitful discussions that are leading towards a new deal being completed.

Since he was called up to New York, Shesterkin has appeared in 47 games compiling a record of 26-16-3 with a 2.59 GAA.

The 25-year-old was handed the torch from fan-favorite Henrik Lundqvist when the 2020-’21 season concluded.  He has a tough start to this past season, but eventually found his way out of his slump ending the season with a  12-2-7 record in his final 22 games.