New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Yegor Rykov on an entry-level contract.

Rykov, 22 (turned 22 years old on April 14), skated in 47 games with HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this past season, registering three goals and six assists for nine points, along with eight penalty minutes. Among KHL defensemen younger than 22 years old, Rykov tied for second in points, tied for third in goals and assists, and tied for fifth in games played in 2018-19. He tied for second on HC Sochi in average ice time this past season (19:24), and he was also tied for second among team defensemen in goals in 2018-19. Rykov tallied seven of his nine points during the season over his final 20 regular season games (two goals, five assists in those 20 contests).

The 6-3, 225-pounder also skated in six games during the 2019 Gagarin Cup Playoffs with HC Sochi, recording three assists. Rykov led KHL defensemen younger than 22 years old in assists and points in the playoffs. He led HC Sochi in average ice time (21:36) in the playoffs, and he logged at least 23:00 of ice time in four of the six games. Rykov ranked second on HC Sochi in assists and tied for third on the team in points in the playoffs, and he led defensemen on the team in both categories.