Rangers, Staal agree to contract extension

Marc Staal. Gary Wiepert/AP

PITTSBURGH — The New York Rangers and defenceman Marc Staal have agreed on a contract extension, keeping Staal off the free agent market this summer.

The 28-year-old Staal has two goals and six assists in 43 games for the Rangers this season. He logged more than 18 minutes of ice time in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.

Staal, an All-Star in 2011, is just one of 12 defencemen in franchise history to play at least 500 games for the Rangers. He has not missed a game this season. He was nearing the end of his current deal.

Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather called Staal one of the team’s cornerstones and an inspiration to the organization.

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