Restricted free agent Ryan Spooner has agreed to a two-year contract with the New York Rangers, the team confirmed. According to Elliotte Friedman, the deal is worth an average annual value of $4 million.
Spooner was acquired by the Rangers from the Boston Bruins in a trade that involved sending Rick Nash to the Bruins in February. Under his previous contract with Boston, Spooner was earning approximately $2 million, making his new deal with the Rangers a significant increase. The 26-year-old, who was drafted 45th overall in the 2010 NHL draft, tallied four goals and 12 assists for a total of 16 points in 59 games with the Rangers. By signing a two-year contract, Spooner avoided becoming an unrestricted free agent, showcasing the team’s commitment to him over the next two seasons.
Surprisingly, Spooner has been retained, possibly indicating that General Manager Jeff Gorton aims to assess the team’s performance under a new head coach.
The Rangers’ decision to sign two-year deals with Spooner, Jimmy Vesey, and Vladislav Namestnikov raises intrigue. While no guarantees are in place, this strategy could imply that these players are being given trial periods under the new coach, with the second year of each contract providing security in case of potential trades involving these individuals.
The upcoming developments remain uncertain, but the Rangers appear to have concluded their summer transactions. Currently boasting a 22-man roster and an estimated $5 million in cap space as per Cap Friendly, the team seems prepared for the forthcoming season.
