NY Rangers lead Free Agent Frenzy, sign Chris Drury, Scott Gomez

Again, Hockey Haters, Don't bother responding.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers solved their problems at center in a big way Sunday, signing Scott Gomez and Chris Drury away from Eastern Conference rivals on the first day of free agency.Just hours after the summer shopping season opened, the Rangers landed the two biggest available centers -- plucking Gomez from Atlantic Division-foe New Jersey and Drury from the Buffalo Sabres, the team that knocked New York out in the second round of this year's playoffs.Gomez signed a seven-year deal with the Rangers worth $51.5 million -- including $10 million next season. Drury inked a five-year contract for $35.25 million. He will earn $7.1 million each of the next two seasons."It's pretty exciting," Rangers general manager Glen Sather said. "We ranked them both as number ones, and we never expected to get both of them."The Rangers had been looking for a second-line center to play with forward Brendan Shanahan, and now can plug Gomez into that spot. Drury's signing means that New York will let unrestricted free agent Michael Nylander leave, creating a spot on the top line for Drury to play alongside Jaromir Jagr.Sather approached both players Sunday and felt during the day that he merely had to convince the pair to come to New York. He knew other teams were interested but didn't get the impression from Drury and Gomez that he was bidding against other clubs.New York already had some room under the salary cap, and then got more space when next season's number was set at $50.3 million, an increase of $6.3 million from last season.Shanahan hasn't signed a new deal yet, but said after the season he wanted to return to New York. The Rangers also need to get restricted free agent goalie Henrik Lundqvist and forward Sean Avery under contract."We still have other people we have to sign so we have to be careful but we think we have things calculated out and we're in a good position," Sather said. "We think we can keep everyone we have right now."Although coach Tom Renney said he always has line combinations running through his head, he hasn't mapped out exactly where everyone will line up on opening night."A couple of additions made it quite appealing," Renney said.Drury's deal also includes a full no-move clause, meaning he can't be traded without his consent or sent to the minor leagues. Agreeing to such terms is a shift in previous Rangers policy."I'd say it was not as intact as it was yesterday," Sather said with a laugh. "When you make a deal, there are certain things you try to stick to and certain things you make compromises on."There was no immediate word whether Gomez received the same consideration. The 27-year Alaskan native, a two-time Stanley Cup champion in his seven NHL seasons -- all with the Devils -- had 13 goals and 47 assists in 72 games last season.Drury, from nearby Trumbull, Conn., joined fellow Sabres co-captain Daniel Briere in leaving Buffalo on Sunday. Briere signed an eight-year, $52 million contract with Philadelphia -- another division rival of the Rangers."I have some kind of mixed feeling," Sather said of the Sabres. "I am happy we got an opportunity to get involved with these players. From Buffalo's perspective, I'm sure they're not happy these two guys left but that's the nature of the beast."I know it was a difficult day for Darcy [Sabres GM Darcy Regier]. You just have to face the facts that sometimes you can't keep everyone, and at some point it's probably going to happen to us. This organization has come a long way and this is our opportunity."Drury, 30, scored a career-high 69 points -- including 37 goals -- for the Sabres. Buffalo had an NHL-best 113 points this season, but the balance of power in the East clearly shifted toward the Atlantic Division on Sunday."He's been a winner everywhere he's been," Sather said. "He brings that spunk we need. He fits many roles for us."The Rangers lost a tight, six-game series to Buffalo in the second round. New York was poised to take a 3-2 series lead in Game 5 when Drury scored the tying goal with 7.7 seconds left in regulation. The Sabres then won 2-1 in overtime to take control back in the series.New York made the playoffs each of the past two years after missing for seven straight seasons."The expectations can't be any greater than they are internally," Renney said. "This is a work in progress and always will be. We just want to get to the highest level possible and work hard to sustain it."Sather said both players indicated a desire to play in New York, and signs throughout the course of Sunday emerged that made him believe he could get them both under contract."I don't think either one of them knew we were negotiating with the other guy," he said. "We called them both at the same time and neither one knew about it until the very end." Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press</div>I'm sad to see Nylander go, but we're getting Younger and Better at Center so It's hard to complain (Except in terms of the money Gomez is getting....ouch). Like the article touched on the Rangers got to get their deals done with Shanahan (Who wants to return), and RFA's Lundqvist and Avery done. Then we could be good to go for a Real Title Run in 2007-2008. :drool: Go Rangers!

 

sharks are fucked. hannan signs with avs, drury signs with rangers. we are screwed.

 

Blues re-signed Barrett Jackman and (pretty much) re-signed Keith Tkachuk! Woo hoo!I doubt the Rangers signees will actually pay off though. Only reason behind that is well, they're the Rangers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jul 2 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I doubt the Rangers signees will actually pay off though. Only reason behind that is well, they're the Rangers.</div>People said Shanahan wasn't going to be a major factor. I was one of them, but holy crap was I wrong. You realize we now have 2 capable 1st line centers on a team. That gives us a great middle for our 1st 2 lines and a center for each of our powerplay lines. We didn't really have that last year.

 

I love it terrific signings by the Blueshirts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jul 2 2007, 07:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jul 2 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I doubt the Rangers signees will actually pay off though. Only reason behind that is well, they're the Rangers.</div>People said Shanahan wasn't going to be a major factor. I was one of them, but holy crap was I wrong. You realize we now have 2 capable 1st line centers on a team. That gives us a great middle for our 1st 2 lines and a center for each of our powerplay lines. We didn't really have that last year.</div>The thing though with the Rangers is their Pre-Lockout additions were usually Older (Or Injury Prone), One-Dimensional Players on the tail end of their careers. These additions by the Rangers are players who are either just entering or are during the prime of their careers (27 and 30 respectively), who are complete players in the sense that they're not a liability on Defense and are pretty good players on Offense.

 

Either way we signed the 2 best possible players we could have. Especially with letting Nylander go, Gomez is the perfect fit for Jagr and Hossa (considering they keep the 1st line together like last year). That means Avery and Shanahan with Drury most likely, which is an insane 2 lines. Hopefully the checking and energy lines stay close to the same. We haven't lost anyone on those lines.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jul 3 2007, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Either way we signed the 2 best possible players we could have. Especially with letting Nylander go, Gomez is the perfect fit for Jagr and Hossa (considering they keep the 1st line together like last year). That means Avery and Shanahan with Drury most likely, which is an insane 2 lines. Hopefully the checking and energy lines stay close to the same. We haven't lost anyone on those lines.</div>A couple minor losses in Ortmeyer and Isbister, also lost Rachunek on Defense. But for the most part the Lower Lines should be the same.

 

Isbister was there for size. Renney was a jackass and stuck him on the 1st line when Hossa was out and that was a big mistake. Rachunek came back after the injury and looked completely off balance. He was nothing in the offensive game like he was before the injury, and frankly I do not believe it will change much in the future. Ortmeyer wasn't any help in the first place. He was there because we needed someone other than a rookie to step in. If you noticed near the end of the year when we got Avery, Ortmeyer sat out behind guys like Colton Orr and even our rookie Dubinsky.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jul 4 2007, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Isbister was there for size. Renney was a jackass and stuck him on the 1st line when Hossa was out and that was a big mistake. Rachunek came back after the injury and looked completely off balance. He was nothing in the offensive game like he was before the injury, and frankly I do not believe it will change much in the future. Ortmeyer wasn't any help in the first place. He was there because we needed someone other than a rookie to step in. If you noticed near the end of the year when we got Avery, Ortmeyer sat out behind guys like Colton Orr and even our rookie Dubinsky.</div>Yeah, pretty much. Exactly why their minor losses as they were only going to see extended time in the event of Injuries.

 

Looks like Prucha will take a hike considering our limited space on the roster along with our still to be signings. We need to resign Shanahan, Lundqvist, Avery, and still need to see what will happen with Hossa and Prucha and even Jarko Immonen. I want Prucha to stay and of course Hossa the way he played last year, but Immonen I can't be satisfied with if it means we need to get rid of 1 of the other 2.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jul 5 2007, 01:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Looks like Prucha will take a hike considering our limited space on the roster along with our still to be signings. We need to resign Shanahan, Lundqvist, Avery, and still need to see what will happen with Hossa and Prucha and even Jarko Immonen. I want Prucha to stay and of course Hossa the way he played last year, but Immonen I can't be satisfied with if it means we need to get rid of 1 of the other 2.</div>Prucha Re-Upped today man. This article doesn't mention it, but I read it was for 2 years, 3.2 Million. http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pre...ses.asp?id=2960Although I agree we need to lock up the rest of our own, Especially Lundqvist (Top 5 Goalie) and Avery (He brings the toughness this team needs). I think they'll work something out though and make it happen. It sounds like Avery and Hossa are going to go to Arbitration, and that Shanahan and Lundy are close to signing. Which is definately good.

 

Yes thank you Prucha. I love Prucha, but he needs a better supporting cast. I don't blame his production fully on himself, after all he was playing with 3rd and 4th liners. You can't score with people like Ortmeyer, Betts, Hollweg, Orr, etc. He didn't start jumping in on production on the PP until late season, so it's hard to push all the blame on his supporting cast as well. He had a decent PP to work with, especially when he was put on the 1st PP unit. Hossa or Immonen is the next big step because it seems that everyone else is being resigned. Bye to Hossa or Immonen.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jul 5 2007, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yes thank you Prucha. I love Prucha, but he needs a better supporting cast. I don't blame his production fully on himself, after all he was playing with 3rd and 4th liners. You can't score with people like Ortmeyer, Betts, Hollweg, Orr, etc. He didn't start jumping in on production on the PP until late season, so it's hard to push all the blame on his supporting cast as well. He had a decent PP to work with, especially when he was put on the 1st PP unit. Hossa or Immonen is the next big step because it seems that everyone else is being resigned. Bye to Hossa or Immonen.</div>I don't expect Immonen to be back personally. I think they'll resign Hossa and stick him on the Third Line with Prucha and Callahan/Cullen

 

i think that Avery will be pushed to the 3rd line and lead that line (perhaps with hossa and callahan) and Prucha will be put with Shanny and Drury/Gomez (whoevers not with the 1st line) because Shanny is a sharpshooter and prucha is great at energy for top lines and that will spread the scoring out among 3 lines instead 2

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nebkreb @ Jul 5 2007, 06:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i think that Avery will be pushed to the 3rd line and lead that line (perhaps with hossa and callahan) and Prucha will be put with Shanny and Drury/Gomez (whoevers not with the 1st line) because Shanny is a sharpshooter and prucha is great at energy for top lines and that will spread the scoring out among 3 lines instead 2</div>I don't know. I think Prucha is one of our best Shooters (Only Straka had a Higher % of Shots for Goals last year) and I'd like to see him as the Sharpshooter of the Third Line.

 

Prucha will never be a 2nd liner for us. He should be if he works to his potential, but after last season there's no way you can put Avery lower than Prucha, especially breaking the chemistry between him and Shanny up. Drury isn't going to center the 1st line, so probably the 2nd line. If it was up to me, my lines would be as follows:Hossa-Gomez-JagrShanahan-Avery-StrakaCallahan-Drury-PruchaOrr/Dubi/Dawes/Hollweg-Betts-Cullen *Depending on the situation with my 4 players to the leftRozsival-MalikGirardi-Pock/Staal **Pending Staal being called up or staying in the minorsMara-TyutinThe reason I still have Malik even on our defense is because it is the way it will happen. I did say I would run as follows, but that pick wasn't really a choice of mine. I think if Staal gets a chance, he would play for Pock, seeing as they are both young so it won't impact taking away a veteran. Mara on the 3rd line D because of his size and ability to shoot. Tyutin would be his partner because of his great hip-checking ability. Mara has the size to cover the front of the net and the boards and slap one home on the other side of the ice. Those are the lines I'd like to see, but I really had no idea where to stick Cullen with 4 C's as is. Betts is good on faceoffs and Cullen isn't going to make it ahead of the other 3. And yes, I put Drury on the checking line where he belongs.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jul 5 2007, 11:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Prucha will never be a 2nd liner for us. He should be if he works to his potential, but after last season there's no way you can put Avery lower than Prucha, especially breaking the chemistry between him and Shanny up. Drury isn't going to center the 1st line, so probably the 2nd line. If it was up to me, my lines would be as follows:Hossa-Gomez-JagrShanahan-Avery-StrakaCallahan-Drury-PruchaOrr/Dubi/Dawes/Hollweg-Betts-Cullen *Depending on the situation with my 4 players to the leftRozsival-MalikGirardi-Pock/Staal **Pending Staal being called up or staying in the minorsMara-TyutinThe reason I still have Malik even on our defense is because it is the way it will happen. I did say I would run as follows, but that pick wasn't really a choice of mine. I think if Staal gets a chance, he would play for Pock, seeing as they are both young so it won't impact taking away a veteran. Mara on the 3rd line D because of his size and ability to shoot. Tyutin would be his partner because of his great hip-checking ability. Mara has the size to cover the front of the net and the boards and slap one home on the other side of the ice. Those are the lines I'd like to see, but I really had no idea where to stick Cullen with 4 C's as is. Betts is good on faceoffs and Cullen isn't going to make it ahead of the other 3. And yes, I put Drury on the checking line where he belongs.</div>I don't think Avery is really Center Material, he's better suited as a Winger. More likely it'sStraka-Gomez-JagrAvery-Drury-ShanahanHossa-Cullen-PruchaCallahan-Betts-Orr/Hollweg(The bottom 6 are pretty much interchangible though)On the Defense, probablyRosival-Malik Girardi-Mara/StallPock-Tyutin

 

Last year Avery played center while we lost Straka for a few games and we still had no Hossa. The line was better when he played center.But I do think your lineup is probably accurate as to what Renney will do, but he might switch Hossa and Straka on your setup. Your defense looks pretty accurate, but Staal and Mara switching off? If anyone gets benched a few games it would be Pock.

 

They've also just re-signed Brendan Shanahan.