New York Rangers' President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed defenseman Dan Girardi to a contract extension. Girardi, 23, has skated in 59 games with the Rangers this season, registering eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points, along with 14 penalty minutes. Among defensemen, he currently ranks second on the team in goals (eight), third in assists (14), and second in points (22). He is also tied for the team lead in blocked shots (86), ranks second on the team overall in average icetime per game (21:16), fourth in hits (121), and fifth in power play goals (five). His eight goals are tied for 16th in the NHL in goals scored by a defenseman, and he is tied for 30th in the league with 121 hits. On October 18, he notched his first career goal, on the power play, at Atlanta. The 6-2, 208-pound defenseman has skated in 93 career NHL games in two seasons with the Rangers, registering eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points, along with 22 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, Girardi appeared in 34 games with the Rangers, collecting six assists, eight penalty minutes, and a plus-seven rating. He posted a plus or even rating in 28 of his 34 games and tied for ninth among NHL rookies in plus/minus rating (plus-seven). On February 17, 2007, he registered his first career NHL points (two assists) vs. Philadelphia. The Rangers posted a 19-9-6 record with him in the lineup following his NHL debut on January 27 at Philadelphia. He also skated in 10 post-season contests during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Welland, Ontario native signed as a free agent with the Rangers on July 1, 2006.