Rangers, Lemieux agree to reported 2-year contract

The New York Rangers and forward Brendan Lemieux avoided arbitration by reaching an agreement, the team announced Friday.

The deal is reportedly for two years and carries an average annual value of $1.55 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The two sides were reportedly heading to arbitration roughly $1 million apart, with Lemieux seeking $2 million annually and the team offering slightly over $1 million.

The physical forward accumulated 164 hits and 111 penalty minutes last season while also racking up six goals and 12 assists in 59 games.

Lemieux was selected with the 31st pick in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He's appeared in 131 career games with the Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, tallying 19 goals and 17 assists. Lemieux ranks ninth in the league in penalty minutes since his NHL debut in 2017.