Just like two summers ago, the Rangers and forward Chris Kreider avoided an arbitration hearing at the 11th hour.
The team announced the signing Friday morning but did not disclose financial terms.
This time, the 25-year-old forward gets locked up with a four-year deal with an average annual salary of $4.625 million, according to a source. The deal includes two seasons in which he would have been eligible for free agency,
In August 2014, the sides settled on a two-year pact for an average of $2.475 million.
Kreider had 21 goals and 43 points in 79 games last season.
The agreement leaves just one key restricted free agent eligible for arbitration: Kevin Hayes, whose hearing is scheduled for July 27.
The Rangers have not had a player go through an arbitration hearing since Nikolay Zherdev in 2009, when the team walked away from his $3.9 million award, making him an unrestricted free agent.
..... - Newsday