Veteran forward Wheeler agrees to deal with Rangers

*Photo from the Boston Globe*

   How about another well producing veteran to the big apple? The New York Rangers and RW Blake Wheeler have agreed to a one year, $800,000 contract, according to Chris Johnston of TSN. The team has confirmed.

   The final season of Wheeler's 5 year, $41.25 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets was bought out on Friday, allowing Wheeler to hit the open market. He preferred to move to the Eastern Conference, and he ends up with the Rangers after 13 seasons with the Jets franchise.

   Wheeler's contract has a base salary of $800,000, which is also what the cap hit is. He also has another $300,000 in performance bonuses available, which pushes the AAV of the contract to $1.1 million. He has a no trade clause for this season.

   Last season with the Jets, Wheeler remained productive. The 36 year old scored 16 goals and 39 assists, posting a -3 rating while averaging 17:03 of ice time in 72 regular season games. He added two goals and 4 assists in 5 playoff games, with the Jets losing in the first round.

   New York GM Chris Drury said of signing Wheeler "Lots to like with Blake Wheeler. Certainly his experience, his leadership, size. He does a lot of everything out there for a big, veteran winger. We think he can move up and down our lineup. We're excited he wants to be here, believes in what we're doing and we're happy he's on board."

   Prior to last season, Wheeler had been the Jets captain from 2016 to 2022, with Wheeler getting stripped of the captaincy before the season started. The Jets instead rolled with a host of associate captains under head coach Rick Bowness.

   Wheeler has played for the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, and Jets in 15 NHL seasons, playing less than a year with the Thrashers before they relocated to Winnipeg and became the Jets. He has 312 goals and 610 assists while averaging 18:27 of ice time per game in 1,118 regular season games. He has 10 goals and 35 assists in 65 career playoff games.

   The Rangers have added Wheeler as a veteran influence to a young team with Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko not expected to return, as both are UFA's. The Rangers were eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs last season.