Rangers re-sign final restricted free agent to 1-year contract extension

The New York Rangers on Friday reached an agreement with defenseman Vincent Iorio on a one-year, two-way contract, finalizing a deal with the team’s last restricted free agent. The contract carries an $850,000 NHL cap hit and a $125,000 AHL salary.

The agreement gives the 23-year-old a substantial increase at the AHL level. His salary was $80,000 during each of the previous two seasons while his entry-level contract slid, meaning he was not owed signing bonuses during that period. The new deal therefore provides a raise if he plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Iorio joined the Rangers after New York claimed him off waivers from the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 31. He appeared in six games for the Rangers during the 2025-26 season, averaging 13:05 of ice time per game and finishing without a point. Before arriving in New York, he played 21 NHL games with the Sharks, recording three assists, while adding seven assists in six AHL games with the San Jose Barracuda.

The 23-year-old Coquitlam, British Columbia native is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-shot defenseman. He was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round, 55th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. Before turning professional, Iorio spent four seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, producing 82 points from 21 goals and 61 assists in 191 games.

Across 196 regular-season games with the Hershey Bears and Barracuda, he has 63 points, including 11 goals and 52 assists. With Hershey, he played 31 playoff games and racked up seven points, including one goal and six assists. He was part of Hershey’s back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Iorio accumulated 22 points in 63 AHL games during his first professional season, followed by 14 points in 60 games in 2023-24 and 20 points in 67 games in 2024-25. His professional career has included 36 NHL games between the Rangers, Sharks and Capitals, along with one playoff appearance for Washington during the 2023-24 season.

The new contract adds another young defenseman to a New York group featuring Adam Fox, Braden Schneider, Sean Durzi, Matthew Robertson, Drew Fortescue, Alberts Smits and Scott Morrow. With that competition for roster spots, Iorio’s new one-year agreement gives the Rangers another developing defensive option heading into 2026-27.

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