The New York Rangers have re-signed forward Chris Kreider to a four-year, $18.5 million contract the team reported on Friday. NHL analyst Aaron Ward reported that the last two years of the deal contain an 11-team no-trade clause.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Chris Kreider on a new contract. pic.twitter.com/RG7p0RFlOG
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 22, 2016
Kreider and the club were set for an arbitration hearing later today. On Wednesday, Ward reported that Kreider had requested $4.75 million per year and the Rangers had countered with an offer of $3.25 million per year. With today’s contract announcement, Kreider and the Rangers avoid going to arbitration and putting his next contract’s value in the hands of an independent arbitrator.
Kreider, 25, played in 79 games for the Blueshirts during the 2015-16 regular season, tallying 21 goals and 43 points. In his four-year NHL career, Kreider has played in 248 games with the Rangers and registered 61 goals and 129 points. In his last two regular seasons, the 6’3″, 226-pound left winger has scored 42 goals and 89 points in 159 games.
He became a restricted free agent earlier this month when his two-year, $4.95 million contract expired.
With an AAV of $4.625 million, the Rangers have ensured that one of its young talents will be with the team the next four seasons. On Monday, the Rangers took a step towards getting younger, as they shipped 29-year-old forward Derick Brassard and a 2018 7th round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for 23-year-old forward Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 2nd round draft pick.