New York Rangers center Derek Stepan signed a six-year, $39 million contract extension on Monday, according to ESPN. Stepan, who totaled 16 goals and 39 assists in 68 games as the Rangers' top-line center last season, will be under contract through the 2020-21 season. The $6.5 million annual average will make the 25-year-old one of the highest-paid players in the league, and the agreement was reportedly reached with relative ease. “For the most part, both sides were pretty close from the beginning, but something like this takes time,” Stepan said Monday. “I think we’re both very comfortable and very happy with this. It went the way I expected it to and wanted it to. I think Jeff [Gorton, the Rangers’ general manager] did a great job. There wasn’t any bad blood through the whole thing. Hats off to him and my agent [Matt Oates].”