NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers have agreed to a new contract with restricted free-agent forward Brian Boyle.
It is reported by The Record (N.J.) to be a three-year deal worth $5.1 million. According to capgeek.com, Boyle made $550,000 last year. Boyle had previously filed for arbitration and had a hearing set for July 25.
Boyle is the third restricted free agent whom the Rangers have re-signed this offseason, following forward Artem Anisimov and defenseman Michael Sauer.
Boyle had the best season of his career with the Rangers last year. In his second full season with the Blue Shirts, Boyle tallied career highs in assists with 14, goals with 21 and points with 35. He also played in all 82 of the Rangers' games, just one of four players to do so.
With Boyle signed, the Rangers can now shift their focus to their two most important restricted free agents: forwards Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. Both players are homegrown talents who are expected to have leadership roles on the team this season and it's projected that one of them will be the team's captain with the buyout of Chris Drury. Both players have also filed for arbitration.
Callahan scored 48 points in an injury-shortened season that saw him miss the playoffs with a fractured ankle. Without Callahan, the Rangers offense struggled to put any pressure on the Capitals in the playoffs. The Rangers selected Callahan in the fourth round of the 2004 draft and his arbitration hearing is July 28.
Dubinsky led the team with 54 points in 77 games, scoring a team-high 24 goals and adding a team-high 30 assists. All marks were career highs for the Rangers' second-round pick in the 2004 draft. His arbitration date is July 21.
Matt Ehalt is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com.