Just before Friday morning's arbitration deadline hit, the New York Rangers and forward Chris Kreider were able to avoid it with a four-year, $18.5 million deal. The contract was agreed upon just minutes before their scheduled hearing, and will now pay Kreider $4.6 million per season.
The restricted free agent was originally asking for a one-year deal worth $4.75 million, but the Rangers were only willing to give $3.2 million over one season. Instead, the two sides moved on to long-term contract negotiations.
The man that was making just $2.475 million in his previous two-year deal has recorded 21 goals in each of the past two seasons. He was one of six players to record 20 goals, 40 points, a plus-10 rating, and 50 penalty minutes this past year. Only Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, and James Neal were able to do so.
Kreider has spent four seasons with New York, recording 61 goals and 68 assists in that span. He has also been a major contributor in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, putting up 20 goals and 13 assists in 65 career postseason contests. To go along with his speed, the former 2009 draft pick is well worth the money the Rangers had to put out to avoid going into arbitration.
The restricted free agent was originally asking for a one-year deal worth $4.75 million, but the Rangers were only willing to give $3.2 million over one season. Instead, the two sides moved on to long-term contract negotiations.
The man that was making just $2.475 million in his previous two-year deal has recorded 21 goals in each of the past two seasons. He was one of six players to record 20 goals, 40 points, a plus-10 rating, and 50 penalty minutes this past year. Only Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, and James Neal were able to do so.
Kreider has spent four seasons with New York, recording 61 goals and 68 assists in that span. He has also been a major contributor in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, putting up 20 goals and 13 assists in 65 career postseason contests. To go along with his speed, the former 2009 draft pick is well worth the money the Rangers had to put out to avoid going into arbitration.
