The NY Rangers had a number of free agents to take care of this offseason and they have now signed another one in Derick Brassard, as the team avoided arbitration with the center, keeping him on a five year contract worth $25 million as a restricted free agent and he is signed along with Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider.
According to ESPN New York, the team agreed with Brassard to avoid arbitration with the RFA and now he joins the other two players as signings this summer. The Rangers lost a number of free agents, including Brian Boyle and Benoit Pouliot, who New York let go to ensure they could sign their trio of restricted players and now they have done that.
The Rangers made a run to the Stanley Cup this season and lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings and Brassard was a major part of their success. Last season Brassard had 18 goals for a career high and had 45 points overall while playing in 81 games and he also had 12 points in the playoffs. The 26 year old has a limited no trade clause in his contract and he will be relied on to step up as a first or second line center after playing on the third line last season.
The team now has Zuccarello and Kreider in on deals along with Brassard and that keeps their young core intact moving into next year and the next Rangers era. The team was forced to release Brad Richards due to a stupid rule after they signed him to a free agent contract and now they are hoping Rick Nash can finally live up to the contract he signed.
