The New York Rangers have locked up Derek Stepan to a six-year deal worth a reported $6.5 million per season. Stepan and the Rangers were set to go to arbitration, but avoided it with a new deal.

There’s no pressing need to move the likes of Zuccarello, Brassard, Stepan or McDonagh, but New York GM Jeff Gorton could be seeing his roster as one that is about to enter a transition period.

This summer, Ryan McDonagh was laser-focused heading into training camp, the 15th of his career. A few months prior, the then Nashville Predators defenseman was notified that he would be returning ...