Sweep of NHL free agency for 27 July 2015

In NHL free agency, the New York Rangers avoided arbitration with center Derek Stepan by agreeing on a six-year deal that is worth an estimated $39 million.

Stepan, 25 years of age, has been a solid forward for the Rangers over the five-year span of his career.

He has 89 goals, 252 points, 94 penalty minutes and is plus-85. He has 15 goals, 41 points and is minus-5 in 80 playoff games with the Rangers.

He, along with many Rangers, was held off the scoresheet in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lighting this year.

In other signings since last week, the Ottawa Senators and forward Alex Chiasson went to arbitration and the Chiasson was awarded $1.2 million.

“The arbitration process went as we expected; we had the opportunity to make our case, as did Alex’s group,” general manager Bryan Murray said on Twitter. “In our opinion, both sides made fair, detailed arguments and we are satisfied with the ruling of the arbitrator.”

In New Jersey, defenseman Adam Larsson re-signed with the Devils for a six-year deal worth a reported $25 million.

Devils general manager Ray Shero  avoided arbitration ruling with the deal.

“I think this is a good deal for both sides,” Shero told Northjersey.com. “This is a young defenseman at 22 years old who is signed for a six-year term. Adam showed a commitment that he really wanted to be here, and we got him three years past the age of unrestricted free agency.”