Rumors are swirling that New York Rangers center Derek Stepan is closing in on a two-year deal with the team that will end his contract holdout after he missed the team's training camp and first four preseason games.
TSN is reporting that the Rangers are "closing in" on a two-year pact with Stepan, 23, worth somewhere between of $3-3.5 million annually.
Following up on multiple NY media reports, confirming Derek Stepan is "close" to 2 yr deal with Rangers. Hearing < $3.25M AAV but > $3M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) September 26, 2013
The deal comes just a couple of days after general manager Glen Sather publicly bashed Stepan and said he needed to stop listening to his agent and that Stepan wasn't a "big enough fool" to sit out all year. Stepan and Sather have been in a disagreement during negotiations as Stepan first wanted a long-term contract while the Rangers were pushing their standard two-year bridge deal.
Stepan then said he'd take the bridge deal but it would have to be at a price higher than $3 million per year, but the Rangers had very little wiggle room above $3 million because of salary cap issues after not buying out Brad Richards this past offseason.
It seems now the two sides may have agreed in principle.
Stepan, who was drafted 51st overall in the second round of the 2008 NHL draft, had a breakthrough year with the Blueshirts last season, but has yet to practice or perform under new head coach Alain Vigneult due to his contract holdout.
The holdout has taken over all of training camp and caused him to miss more than half of the team's preseason schedule, which continues Thursday night with a game against former coach John Tortorella and the Vancouver Canucks and concludes Friday with a game in Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Kings.
In the lockout-shortened season in 2013, Stepan led the Rangers in points (44), assists (26) and plus-minus (+25) while also finishing three goals shy of Rick Nash with 18 goals. Stepan also lead the Rangers in the postseason with four goals while also adding an assist for five points through 12 games.
The Blueshirts etched out an opening round victory against the Washington Capitals in seven games after falling behind in the series 2-0 and 3-1, but fell to the Boston Bruins in five games in the second round.
The season was a bit of a disappointment for the Rangers despite a playoff appearance and round one victory, because the team was just two victories shy of a Stanley Cup Finals appearance the year before. The disappointment fell on the shoulders of Tortorella, who was fired in the offseason following the Rangers early exit.
If the deal becomes confirmed, Stepan will be in the Rangers lineup Oct. 3 when the team opens up the season on the road in Phoenix. The Rangers hope to build on a season last year that saw the team earn 56 points and a 26-18-4 overall record during the shortened campaign and lock up the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Stepan was the team's best player last year, so putting a contract mess to the side and an off-ice distraction behind him will be beneficial to the team when the season starts.
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