With the deadline to accept qualifying offers now just a day away, Rangers defenseman Rob O’Gara has accepted his qualifier, reports CapFriendly (Twitter link). The deal will pay just over $874K in the NHL (105% of his base salary from last season) and $70K at the minor league level.
New York acquired O’Gara back in February from Boston in exchange for defenseman Nick Holden (who has since signed with Vegas in free agency). Prior to the trade, he spent most of last season with the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence, suiting up in 43 games while playing just eight times with Boston.
Following the trade, he became a regular on New York’s third pairing, playing in 22 games while averaging a respectable 17:10 in ice time. Considering that the Rangers have not really done much to add to their back end this summer (aside from adding Fredrik Claesson), O’Gara has a good chance to reprise that role next season which likely played a role in him merely accepting his qualifying offer over negotiating a lower NHL salary in exchange for more guaranteed pay in the AHL. If he fails to make the team, he will gave to clear waivers in order to go back to the minors.