Derek Stepan Signs 6-Year Deal With Rangers
The New York Rangers have announced that they have signed center Derek Stepan to a long-term contract. The contract is worth $39 million over six years. Stepan was set to have an arbitration meeting Monday morning. The 25-year-old now has the third-highest salary on the team, behind Henrik Lundqvist ($8.5 million) and Rick Nash's ($7.8 million).
Stepan had 16 goals and 39 assists in 68 games as the Rangers regular-season. He had his best pro performance season in assists per game 0.57, plus/minus rating +26, short-handed goals (two), and short-handed points (five). He tied for the NHL lead in short-handed assists and tied for second in the NHL in short-handed points. He also had five goals and seven assists in 19 postseason games, tallying the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 7 against Washington in the Eastern Conference semifinal. His playoff performance was unmatchable from any other Rangers.
Stephan was a second-round pick in the 2008 draft, he has showed that he gives the Rangers a formidable one-two punch at center with Derrick Brassard. Both players are locked up for the next four seasons.