The Maple Leafs re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Cody Franson earlier this morning, and the New York Post's Larry Brooks reports that the remaining marquee RFA on the market, Derek Stepan, may re-sign with the New York Rangers shortly:

The stalemate between the Rangers and Derek Stepan appears to be coming to an end, with talks between the club and its presumptive first-line center having accelerated Thursday morning, sources have told The Post.

It is believed the parties are zeroing in on a two-year contract worth approximately $6.5 million. That would represent a split-the-difference agreement: Stepan had been seeking $7 million while the Rangers had been offering approximately $6 million.

Stepan, who has been skating in Madison with players from the Wisconsin varsity, would likely meet the Blueshirts in New York on Sunday after they return home from Friday night’s final exhibition game in Las Vegas against the Kings. That would leave time for merely a handful of practices for Stepan to get ready for the Rangers’ opener in Phoenix on Oct. 3 as he acclimates himself to new coach Alain Vigneault’s system.

Continued

added 12:44pm,