Rangers, Kreider agree on new deal

NEW YORK — The New York Rangers signed forward Chris Kreider to a four-year contract worth $18.5 million US in a lastminute deal that helped the sides avoid arbitration.

General manager Jeff Gorton announced the agreement on Friday. Hours later, he also announced the signing of the Rangers’ other major restricted free agent, centre Kevin Hayes.

Hayes signed a two-year contract for $5.2 million. He was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing next week.

Kreider’s new contract will pay him an average of $4.6 million and keep him the team through 2020. It also includes a modified no-trade clause that prevents the 25-year-old Kreider from being traded to 11 teams.