from Steve Zipay of Newsday,

A restricted free agent, Zuccarello, who had 19 goals and 40 assists in 77 games last season and went 5-8-13 in the playoffs, was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing July 25. But he and the club agreed to a one-year, $3.5-million contract, which makes him an unrestricted free agent this summer.

After Jan. 1, one-year players can sign extensions, but the Rangers are juggling cap space, both currently and long-term. And their pending free agents include six top players: Marc Staal and Martin St. Louis are unrestricted, and Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast are restricted....

His line, with Derick Brassard and Rick Nash, is "playing against a first line almost every game, so I also take pride in my defensive play," Zuccarello said. "I just try to go out and work hard every night, that's the mindset I have. It wouldn't change if I had a longer deal."

But a multiyear deal is clearly Zuccarello's desire. "I would like them to have faith in me for longer years," he said. "I've had one-year deals for a long time now, so it'd be nice to get some stability."

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