As reported Sunday, GM Glen Sather told The Post last week Wisconsin junior center Derek Stepan would attend the Rangers’ prospect camp the first week of July.
When Stepan does so, he will no longer be a Badger.
The Post has learned that Stepan, the Rangers’ second-round (51st overall) selection in the 2008 Entry Draft, has agreed to terms on a contract that, per the collective bargaining agreement, cannot be registered with the NHL until July 1. It will be a three-year Entry Level deal expected to be close to the $875,000 base salary cap.
Stepan, who will turn 20 a week from Friday, was captain of the Team USA World Junior Championship gold-medal winners this January. Used in a defensive and checking role through much of his college career, Stepan was an offensive force in the tournament for the United States, recording 14 points (4-10) in seven games. He had 54 points (12-42) as a sophomore for the Badgers, who lost the NCAA final to Boston College.
Stepan would have to be regarded as an extreme long shot to make the Rangers out of training camp. If he does not make the club, he’s more likely to be assigned to the junior WHL Calgary Hitmen rather than the team’s AHL Hartford affiliate.
Sather is continuing to make an effort to sign Stepan’s Wisconsin teammate, senior defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who also will be at the Rangers’ prospect camp.