One of the most enticing trade targets is now off the market.
The Rangers and defenseman Dan Girardi agreed to a contract extension late Friday afternoon that will keep him in New York.
According to multiple sources, the six-year deal is worth $33 million with an annual average value of $5.5 million, though the yearly salary breakdown is still being finalized. The deal also includes a full no-move clause in the first three years of the contract, which kicks in immediately, and a modified no-trade clause in the final three years of the deal.
"I'm just really excited about the deal and to be a New York Ranger for my career," said Girardi.
Girardi was one of two high-profile unrestricted free agents for the Blueshirts -- the other being captain Ryan Callahan -- who had yet to agree to an extension with the NHL's March 5 trade deadline looming. Instead of dealing the 29-year-old top-pair defenseman, general manager Glen Sather was able to lock him up long term.
"Dan has been a Ranger for his entire career, signing with us as an undrafted free agent and working his way to become a top defenseman in the NHL," Sather said in a team-issued news release. "His dedication to this club, as a leader both on the ice and in the locker room, is invaluable to this team. We are happy to have been able to ensure that he will continue to wear the Blueshirt."
Sather was reportedly committed to shopping either Girardi or Callahan -- possibly both -- if he could not get them under contract.
Both Boston and Anaheim are believed to have been interested in the rugged right-handed Girardi, who has ranked in the top six in blocked shots the past four seasons and has been in the top 15 players in average ice time the past three seasons.
New York's attention now is expected to turn to Callahan, whose situation seems much less promising, in hopes of coming to an agreement. While Girardi's camp and the Rangers spoke frequently the past few weeks, there was no communication between the club and Callahan's reps during the Olympic break.
The two sides have had discussions in the past few days, Callahan's agent, Steve Bartlett, confirmed in an email to ESPNNewYork.com on Friday, but he said there is "not much to report" in terms of progress on a potential new deal.
Girardi expressed doubt that his contract would have direct implications on Callahan's negotiations, though he sounded hopeful a new deal gets done.
"You want to keep the captain of your team. I don't think it affects him too much," he said. "[I'm] letting him deal with it, work itself out and hopefully in the next three or four days, we'll see what happens."
Callahan is reportedly seeking a seven-year deal worth between $6.5 and $7 million annually.
ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun contributed to this report.