The New York Rangers announced on Thursday afternoon that the team has agreed to terms with forward Cody McLeod.
New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton announced the team has agreed to terms with Cody McLeod on a one-year contract.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with forward Cody McLeod on a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/Ko3ZqrM178
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 12, 2018
The 34-year-old McLeod split time last season between the Nashville Predators and the Rangers, scoring one goal with four assists in 48 games played combined for both teams. He didn’t score while playing for the Blueshirts following the team’s waiver claim on Jan. 25.
McLeod will be entering his 14th season in the NHL. He played the first 10 years of his career with the Colorado Avalanche before being traded to the Nashville Predators in January 2017.
He led all skaters with eight hits while making his Rangers debut on Feb. 1, 2018, vs. Toronto, and his eight hits were the most a Ranger player recorded in one game during the season.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder tallied 111 penalties last season, tying for second in the NHL in major penalties (13) while ranking sixth in the league in penalty minutes in 2017-18.
The Rangers agreeing to terms with McLeod will help the team have some toughness in the lineup, should he make the team out of training camp. Last season Mcleod led the Blueshirts in hits per game (3.0) with 76 hits in 25 contests.
During his time with the Colorado Avalanche, McLeod served as an alternate captain for five seasons (2011-12–2015-16). McLeod has skated in 38 Stanley Cup Playoff games in his career, and he helped Nashville to advance to the Stanley Cup Final during the 2016-17 season.
The Rangers will need his toughness and experience as an aid to the younger, first time NHL players the Rangers will have in their lineup. McLeod will definitely be a player the team looks to as someone who can protect the likes of Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil.
