Insider Trading: Rangers grinding away on Shesterkin extension

TSN Hockey Insiders Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger join host Gino Reda and have the latest on the Rangers and their No. 1 goaltender, how Jeremy Swayman’s deal may impact Jake Oettinger’s next contract, the Leafs and John Tavares’ extension talks and teenagers on NHL rosters on opening night.

Gentlemen, it certainly looks like Igor Shesterkin is set to become the highest paid goalie in the NHL. The only question is for how much? And, now, word that $11 million a year will not get it done?

Johnston: Well, our loyal Insider Trading viewers will know that the Rangers have been willing to go above $10.5 million [that] Carey Price makes for some time now - we've reported that during the preseason. But what's interesting is that we're getting to this point on the verge of the regular season. They still haven't got to a number that Igor Shesterkin is willing to sign off for. And the main reason that's of interest is that Shesterkin previously had indicated a desire to get this done and taken care of during training camp, wanting to just focus once the puck drops on Wednesday for their game against Pittsburgh - on the season to come. Obviously a big year for the Rangers and it remains to be seen if he'll hold firm to that because at this point it's believed while he may be not insisting on an eight-year deal, perhaps Shesterkin will go something a little shorter than that if the Rangers meet his number. They haven't got there yet and this is obviously a number that's going to reset the goalie market. That's going to be well above what Price got if Shesterkin gets it and he appears ready to stick to his guns.

LeBrun: Well, Jeremy Swayman, as we know, reset the RFA goalie market with his deal with the Bruins on Sunday and one goalie the same age as him, Jake Oettinger, was paying close attention, I think, to what was going on with that negotiation with the Boston Bruins. Oettinger also 25, RFA at the end of the season and there's no question in anyone's mind that Swayman extension will have an impact on those talks between the Dallas Stars and Jake Oettinger. Now, I'm told that there have not been meaningful discussions yet on an extension between the Stars and Oettinger, led by agent Ben Hankinson. I think, all things being equal, that Oettinger and his agent probably were fine waiting until after the season, but it would not surprise me if Jim Nill - the GM of the Stars - would try to get this going here in-season.

When the Leafs drop the puck on their regular season on Wednesday night, they will do so with six players going into the final year of their current NHL contracts, and that includes John Tavares. Is there anything happening on that front?

LeBrun: Well, there's something happening from the point of view that there have been contract talks. There's been back-and-forth between Tavares' camp, led by agent Pat Brisson and the Leafs front office just to get the ball rolling. I don't think anything is imminent, although I do hear that that dialogue is supposed to pick up again in the near future. I don't know if there's a huge rush from the team perspective. I mean, listen, there's a mutual desire between the team and John Tavares to get something done at some point. John Tavares, of course, calls Toronto home, was raising a family in Toronto. But I think from the Leafs perspective, yeah, something they want to get done. I don't know if they're in a rush to do it.

Speaking of young players, we're seeing some under 20s making their mark in the NHL.

Johnston: Yeah, but not many of them. Just 10 of the 712 players that made opening night rosters are teenagers. That's only 1.4 per cent and none of them were bigger surprises than Jett Luchanko, who made the Philadelphia Flyers out of training camp. He came to that camp - they didn't even expect the 13th-overall pick to challenge for a job, but they have an organizational need at centre. A very speedy, good skater, and he made a strong impression. So, he starts the year in Philadelphia, just one of two 18 year olds in the league to start the season. But it's going to be a tryout continuing for Luchanko. He can only go back to Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League or stay with the Flyers, so he'll be monitored closely by Flyers' management here