Stepan Update: Official Signed

According to New York Post Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks, the New York Rangers have officially signed an NHL contract.

The report indicates that the deal cannot be registered with the NHL until July 1st, but that the deal is expected to be at or near the NHL rookie max contract of $875,000.

The part of the article from Brooks that really pisses me off, and I mean REALLY pisses me off, is that it sounds as if Stepan does not make the Rangers out of camp, that he will be spending time with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, not playing in the AHL. At this point in his development, that is the stupidest thing ever. He's going to leave the WCHA so he play against 16 year olds again? Really?

This little nugget at the bottom of the article is awesome too, "Sather is continuing to make an effort to sign Stepan's Wisconsin teammate, senior defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who also will be at the Rangers' prospect camp."

Chuck Update: Officially about to jump off a bridge