Rangers, Kreider Agree On Contract Extension; Shesterkin, Buchnevich Involved In Car Crash

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Chris Kreider is staying in New York, but Rangers fans were hardly celebrating Monday after team president John Davidson announced that rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin and winger Pavel Buchnevich were involved in a car accident Sunday night in Brooklyn.

Shesterkin suffered a small rib fracture and will be reassessed in a couple of weeks, Davidson said. Buchnevich was shaken up but avoided any significant injuries. He is listed as day-to-day.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m."Igor was driving, and apparently a vehicle pulled a U-turn in front of him and there was a collision," Davidson said. "The airbags were deployed immediately, and the seatbelts were being worn by both players, and thankfully for that -- and I mean, thankfully for that.

The Rangers' Chris Kreider shoots against the Edmonton Oilers on March 3, 2018, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.USA TODAY Images

"In our business, you're dealt curveballs all the time. That's a tough curveball that we have to deal with."

Hours before Monday's 3 p.m. trade deadline, the Blueshirts signed Kreider to a seven-year contract extension. TSN's Bob McKenzie reported the deal is for $6.5 million per season.

The Rangers felt pressure to trade Kreider if a contract extension could not been worked out by the deadline. The 28-year-old winger had been set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, and the franchise didn't want to be left empty-handed if he signed elsewhere.

"There was lots of dialogue," Davidson said. "It's gone on for a few days. And both sides are very happy with the deal we've been able to put together."

Kreider, the 19th overall pick by the Rangers in the 2009 draft, has spent eight seasons in New York, registering 157 goals and 159 assists (316 points) in 518 games.

This season, Kreider has skated in 60 games and has 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points. He is on pace to set career highs in both goals and assists and was selected to his first All-Star Game last month, replacing the injured Artemi Panarin.

Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers plays in his first NHL game against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 7, 2019, at Madison Square Garden. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Shesterkin, 24, has exploded on the scene, winning nine of his first 10 NHL starts while registering a .941 save percentage and 2.18 goals-against average. 

Buchnevich, also 24, has skated in 61 games this season and has 14 goals and 23 assits for 37 points.

After winning seven of their last eight games, the Rangers (33-24-4) trail Carolina by four points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.