After trading Kevin Hayes to the Winnipeg Jets, the New York Rangers have made another transaction. This time it’s a one-year one-way contract extension for Boo Nieves worth $700K according to Frank Seravalli of TSN. Nieves was heading towards Group VI unrestricted free agency this summer since he has played only 58 games in his relatively short professional career.
Nieves, 25, hasn’t developed quite as quickly as the Rangers hoped when they made him the 59th overall pick in 2012. After four successful seasons at the University of Michigan, he has struggled to put up much offense in the minor leagues and has just 17 points in 58 career NHL games. With just 20 contests remaining this season for the Rangers, Nieves was not going to be able to cross the 80-game Group VI threshold. That threshold is still in play for next summer as well when Nieves will still be just 26. If he does play 80, he’ll become a restricted free agent in 2020.
The team has also signed a one-year extension with Steven Fogarty, who was another pending Group VI UFA. Fogarty has even less NHL experience with just 11 games under his belt, but is having an excellent season in the minor leagues. The 25-year old has 39 points in 47 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack but is waiting for his first NHL point. Both players will serve as inexpensive depth for the Rangers going forward.