Ryan Malone is looking for a second chance to hang on in the National Hockey League, and the New York Rangers are giving him one.
Malone, 34, began practising with the Rangers in the club’s informal skates Monday, as first reported by Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Formal talks between Malone’s agent, Mike Liut, and the Rangers are expected to follow.
An unrestricted free agent since being bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 25, Malone will receive $833,333 from Tampa in each of the next two seasons.
The power forward reached the 20-goal mark in three of his six seasons with the Lightning but finished 2014-15 with a disappointing 15 points in 57 games.
On April 12, he was arrested in Tampa and charged with possession of cocaine and driving under the influence. Last month he pleaded no-contest to his DUI charge and consented to a pre-trial diversion program on his cocaine charge.
According to Brooks’ source, Malone has been cleared by the NHL to sign a new contract and is in Stage 2 of the NHL/NHLPA’s substance abuse and behavioural health program.
Malone has former teammates in forwards Martin St. Louis and Dominic Moore on the Rangers.
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