By Fitzgerald Cecilio

After failing to acquire top defenseman Shea Weber from the free-agent market, the New York Rangers settled for a fresh two-year contract with blueliner Anton Stralman to avoid arbitration.

The Rangers signed the restricted free agent to a two-year, $3.4 million deal ahead of the July 31 arbitration hearing.

The contract calls for Stralman, who will turn 26 on August 1, earning $1.6 million in the first year and $1.8 million in the second.

Last year, Stralman signed a one-year, $900,000 contract and played 53 regular-season games with the Rangers, finishing with two goals and 18 points. He added three goals and six points in 20 playoff games.

He also tied for first among NHL defensemen in power play goals, second in power play points, third in goals, and eighth in points. Stralman made his NHL playoff debut on April 12 against Ottawa in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

A seventh round choice by Toronto in 2005, the 5-11, 193-pounder has skated in 265 career NHL contests over five seasons with the Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, registering 13 goals and 79 assists for 92 points, along with 117 penalty minutes.

Stralman made his NHL debut on October 23, 2007, with the Maple Leafs against Atlanta. In his rookie year, he recorded three goals and six assists in 50 games. Stralman registered his first career NHL point with an assist on January 10, 2008, at Los Angeles and notched his first career NHL goal on March 21, 2008, at Buffalo.

In 2009-10, Stralman established career-highs in games played (73), goals (six), assists (28), points (34), penalty minutes (37), power play goals (four), power play assists (18), power play points (22), and shots on goal (121) as a member of the Blue Jackets.

He led Columbus defensemen in points, assists, power play goals, power play assists, and power play points, and tied for second among team defensemen in goals that season. He also led all Columbus skaters in power play assists, tied for second in power play points and fifth in power play goals.

 

Rangers Sign Blueliner Anton Stralman to Two-Year Deal