SIGNING: NY Rangers Reward Veteran Center With Multi-Year Deal

After years of paying his dues—and dominating—in the minors, and now on a nice little run in the NHL, New York Rangers bottom-six center Jonny Brodzinski has earned himself a new two-year contract extension, and it features an important bit of business for the 30-year-old forward.

2X$787.5K, but more importantly for Brodzinski, it's a one-way in both seasons https://t.co/FCgc4tCa1G

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 21, 2024

Brodzinki's new two-year deal is one-way, announced general manager Chris Drury. That means he'll earn $787,500 annually whether he stays in the NHL or is sent down to the minor leagues. And he has spent quite a bit of time down in the American Hockey League the past few seasons. In fact, according to Vincent Z. Mercogliano of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News, Brodzinski has been involved in 84 transactions, bouncing up and down from the minors, since signing his entry-level contract in 2015, while additionally being placed on waivers six times.

The 6-foot centre has been a regular in the Rangers’ lineup, however, since being called up from Hartford of the AHL in late November because of injuries to Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. And he's performed well, with four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 37 games, averaging just 11 1/2 minutes per contest. In his last five games, Brodzinski has recorded a goal and two assists. 

The former fifth-round draft choice (2013) has been the captain with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack, for the past couple of seasons. Since 2020, he's recorded 56 goals and 73 assists for 129 points in 113 games with the Wolfpack. 

In the NHL, the defensive forward's numbers have been more modest, with 13 goals and 32 points in 138 games over eight seasons.

"Deep down, I've always felt like I belonged here and I can contribute at this level," said Brodzinski recently. "I know that I can, and this year I'm trying to prove it."

That, he has. 

Photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports