Derek Stepan and Rangers agree on long-term deal hours before arbitration hearing

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The New York Rangers have signed centre Derek Stepan to a long-term contract.

General manager Jeff Gorton announced the deal Monday, hours before a contract arbitration hearing for the 25-year-old Stepan.

Terms were not immediately available.

A restricted free agent, Stepan had 16 goals and 39 assists in 68 games as the Rangers posted the NHL's best regular-season record. He also had five goals and seven assists in 19 post-season games, tallying the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 7 against Washington in the Eastern Conference semifinal.