Comparison shopping is the order of the day when contracts are negotiated.
That’s why Jeremy Swayman’s $8.25, eight year deal with the Bruins could be the torpedo that sinks Igor Shesterkin’s bid to be the highest-paid goalie in history.
You don’t have to be an Einstein – or even a Swayman for that matter – to realize that figure-crunching tells us that Igor actually deserves no more than Jeremy. A couple of points explain:
1. Swayman has a lifetime goals against average of 2.34. Shesterkin’s GAA comes in at 2.42. (Advantage: Bruin.)
2. Shesterkin has a lifetime save percentage of .921. Swayman’s is .919. (Advantage: Rangers, but not by much.)
Clearly, these netminders – at least numerically – are nearly equal with a teeny-weeny advantage to Swayman.
Ah, but what does this mean in terms of Iggy’s potential new contract? For the answer I go to my Vice President In Charge of Contract Decisions; Alan Greenberg.
“If Swayman now is getting $8.25 for eight years,” Greenberg explains, “it figures to be hard for Igor’s agent to justify 50 percent more for Shesterkin.”
The Maven asked another qualified observer for his view. “If I’m Chris Drury, I’d make one last offer for not more than $10 million – five years and a three year no movement contract.”
What if Drury says nix to that; it’s too much?
“I’d trade him to a Western Conference team for a decent prospect goalie.”
Drury knows that Rangers fans are locked in to his “We’re keeping Igor” statement of not long ago. That tells me that the GM is in no position to maintain a low-ball with Shesty’s rep.
Prediction. Shesterkin remains a Ranger for $11 million. If that happens to turn out to be the case – at age 28 – Iggy couldn’t be luckier.
Naturally, there are those who disagree with The Maven. Respectfully, Sean McCaffrey, publisher-editor-columnist of Blue Collar Blueshirts, offers this.
“Swayman’s deal helps Igor because his agent played hardball with the Bruins – and won!”
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