Kreider, Rangers agree to two-year contract

Forward Chris Kreider and the New York Rangers avoided a salary arbitration hearing by agreeing Wednesday to a two-year contract reportedly worth $2.35 million for the 2014-15 season and $2.6 million in 2015-16.

Kreider had an arbitration hearing scheduled for later Wednesday.

The 23-year-old had career highs of 17 goals and 37 points in 66 games last season, and five goals and 13 points in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Kreider was considered a rookie despite having enjoyed several moments in New York after the Rangers made him the 19th pick in the 2009 NHL Draft.

He joined the team for the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs shortly after winning an NCAA championship at Boston College and had five goals and two assists in 18 games as the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final.

Kreider was up and down between the NHL and the American Hockey League the following season, playing in 23 regular-season games for the Rangers, but he scored an overtime goal in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Bruins.