Ten points about the Rangers from The Maven.
1. The Rangers are in Detroit tonight and guess what? The Red Wings coach is lobbying in favor of Igor Shesterkin's biggest, fattest new contract.
2. Yeah, after his Wings were clipped at MSG on Monday night, Derek Lalonde lauded Iggy to the sky and then even commended his agent and just about said MSG's enormous offer to the third-best goalie in hockey was tantamount to small potatoes peanuts.
3. Guess what? Whatever pot of gold The Garden guys finally give Shesty, I hereby announce The Maven's choice for Igor's new nickname and it's a beaut: THE KING OF KA-CHING! (Short form: KING KA-CHING! Take your pick.)
4. Weeks ago a newspaper outsider "insider" made it seem as if Igor's gigantic deal was cemented in stone. All but the signing was done. Wrong guess.
5. Arthur Staple had the real inside scoop when he wrote that Iggy's rep and Chris Drury were "far apart" in negotiations.
6. That would seem to be the case since no announcement has been made and who knows when it will be made? I want to know which "insider" will break the story – Kevin Weekes? Elliotte Friedman? The Scoop Race is on. (Maybe even a New York guy.)
7. If, as some suggest, Shesterkin really wants only a three-year deal that could mean that in his fourth year, Mother Russia may be calling.
8. OR, here's the longer of longshots, The Poor Little Rich Man might wait until this season ends. A Vezina and Stanley Cup win could make him a BILLIONAIRE.
9. If Igor goes on Thursday – The Maven Predicts it'll be Jonathan Quick -- the Rangers four-game"Flubs Follies" will end; likely on a high note. (The Beloved Blueshirts finally will meet a real team Saturday in Toronto.)
10. In any event The Bank Of Shesterkin won't open until pen goes to paper and Detroit's losing coach Derek Lalonde once again can utter his deathless line, "Shesterkin's got a good agent!"
