Per Larry Brooks on Twitter, the Rangers have resigned Mike Sauer to a two year, $2.5M deal. The deal means Sauer and the Rangers will avoid arbitration later in the Summer.
After signing an entry-level contract in 2006, Sauer didn’t begin playing in the AHL until the following season after completing his junior eligibility. In the 2008-09 season, he made his NHL debut and played three games, including a nervous outing against the Pittsburgh Penguins that saw him benched for the majority of the game and ultimately reassigned to Hartford.
Injuries kept him out of much of the 2009-10 season, but the Rangers elected to retain his services and he signed his one year qualifying offer in July of 2010.
Going into camp last season, there was some question as to whether the Rangers may seek to move the 24 year old Minnesota native from what appeared to be a crowded roster. By virtue of his age and experience, Sauer could no longer be sent down to the AHL without passing through waivers.
Initially placed on the bench in favor of Matt Gilroy and Steve Eminger, it wasn’t long before Sauer was back in the line-up, and ultimately he would finish appearing in 76 of the 82 regular season games played.
Sauer and fellow rookie Ryan McDonagh formed a solid second pairing for the Rangers last year, and they will likely be back together for their sophomore seasons.
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