The NHL’s last restricted free agent has an agreement in place.
Derek Stepan reached a two-year deal with the New York Rangers Thursday. The contract will pay Stepan $6.15 million, according to the New York Post‘s Larry Brooks.
The deal comes mere hours after the Toronto Maple Leafs inked their last RFA standing, defenceman Cody Franson, to a one-year contract.
The 23-year-old Stepan was the highest-scoring American centreman last season, registering 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points in 48 games as the Rangers’ first-line middle man. A plus-25 player who logged more than 20 minutes a game and received only 12 minutes in penalties in 2012-13, the Minnesota native was due for a significant raise from his three-year entry-level deal, which totaled $2.65 million.
https://twitter.com/DerekStepan21/status/383362643223773185
According to the New York Post, Stepan was originally believed to be after a five- or six-year deal worth approximately $5 million per season; the Rangers preferred a two-year pact worth $2.75 to $3 million annually.
The fourth-year forward had been practising with NCAA players in Madison, Wisconsin.
The Rangers’ opening game takes place in Phoenix on Oct. 3.
