<p>NEW YORK &mdash; The New York Rangers and Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist have agreed to terms on an entry-level contract.</p>
<p>Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury announced the deal with the 20-year-old first-round pick Thursday.</p>
<p>Lundkvist played 52 games with Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League this past season, finishing with 14 goals and 18 assists. He won the Salming Trophy in 2020-21 awarded annually to the best Swedish-born defenseman in the SHL as selected by Hockey Hall of Famer Borje Salming.</p>
<p>Lundkvist established SHL career highs in several categories, including games played, goals, points, average ice time (21:24), and shots on goal (156). His 14 goals were the most by a defenseman in one SHL season by a player 21 or under.</p>
<p>The 5-foot-11, 187-pounder has 30 goals and 48 assists in 166 career SHL games over parts of four seasons.</p>
<p>Lundkvist recently had five assists in three games at the world championship in Latvia.</p>
<p>The Rangers drafted him 28th overall in 2018.</p>
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