from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

The deal is not yet done, but the Rangers and Marc Staal are making progress toward a contract extension that would keep the alternate captain in New York for the next six years, The Post has learned.

A well-placed source said there had been “a productive meeting” here on Wednesday between assistant general manager Jeff Gorton and Staal’s representative, Paul Krepelka.

It is believed the sides are discussing a six-year deal between $5.6 and $5.9 million per season for the 28-year-old defenseman, who is in his eighth season as a Ranger after having been selected 14th overall in the 2005 Entry Draft.

Staal, Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, Lee Stempniak and Matt Hunwick currently are pending unrestricted free agents while Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Jesper Fast and John Moore are pending restricted free agents.

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