The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with forward Derek Stepan on a six-year, $39 million deal.
Today’s announcement came the morning the two sides were scheduled to go to arbitration.
Stepan had 16 goals and 39 assists in 68 games last season. The 25-year-old center now has the third-highest cap hit ($6.5 million) on the team, behind Henrik Lundqvist ($8.5 million) and Rick Nash ($7.8 million).
With Stepan signed long-term, the Rangers have two young centers, Stepan and 27-year-old Derick Brassard, under contract for at least the next four years.