"It was a tense night for the Rangers, but when morning came, they got their man.

A source has told the Daily News that Brad Richards has made his decision and will sign with the Rangers.

An All-Star last season with the Dallas Stars, Richards had 28 goals and 49 assists in 72 games. Multiple reports indicate that the deal is for nine years and $58.5 million, which would result in an annual salary cap hit of $6.5 million.

Richards will be reunited with John Tortorella, his coach with the 2004 Stanley Cup champion Lightning, and will be slotted in the middle of the Rangers' top line, alongside Marian Gaborik.

The Daily News reported Friday that the Calgary Flames offered Richards a nine-year, $64 million deal, while the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings also bid aggressively to sign the top free agent on the market this summer.

While the Rangers were waiting on Richards, they re-signed one of his teammates from the Lightning's championship run, left wing Ruslan Fedotenko. The Blueshirts also signed left wing Mike Rupp Friday."