The New York Rangers had targeted New Jersey Devils forward Scott Gomez, and Buffalo Sabres forward Chris Drury prior to the free agency period that began yesterday at noon. I guess Bill Clement would say the blue shirts have got tone right now, and are locked on.

Both UFA's agreed to long term deals with the New York Rangers yesterday. Scott Gomez signed a 7 year deal worth $51.5 million dollars. Gomez will earn $10 million next seaon in a contract that is front loaded in much the same way that Briere's new deal from the Flyers is. Chris Drury signed a 5 year deal that will pay him $35.25 million. The signings of both centers will pretty much end forward Michael Nylanders tour of duty as Jaromir Jagr's pivot, which to me is a real dissapointment. Nylander and Jagr were spectacular together, and I hope that Drury or Gomez will be able to find similiar chemisty with the super star right winger.

While I'm excited about the moves the Rangers made, I'm also concerned. The last time the Rangers mined the Devils for free agent talent, the results were less than terrific. In fact they outright sucked. Bobby Holik who was the last hired gun from New Jersey to come to Madison Square Garden was an exclamation point on the decade of underachieving Ranger teams. I can only hope that Gomez can deliver where he could not.

For the Buffalo Sabres and their fans, the last 24 hours have been a bitter pill to swallow. As most expected, and those in Western New York feared, both of their free agent properties have left in favor of big dollars, and larger markets. I think the Sabres will definitely rebound from the loss of Briere, and Drury, and should be able to find suitable replacements from within for those players. I also expect the Sabres to be just a solid as they were last season. This team isn't going anywhere.




Quick Shave:
While the Sabres fans are shaking their heads, the New York Islanders fans must feel like cutting theirs off. Forward Ryan Smyth, whom the Isles had acquired at the trade deadline from the Edmonton Oilers for a collection of former first round picks and a their first round selection in this year's NHL Entry Draft, agreed to a contract with the Colorado Avalanche yesterday. Smyth signed a 5 year deal worth $31.25 million with the Avs. To make matters worse, Jason Blake, the Islanders other free agent forward fled north to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs for 5 years at $20 million. Former Nashville Predator Paul Kariya agreed to a 3 year deal worth $18 million with the St. Louis Blues yesterday. Early this morning the Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Petr Sykora to a two year deal, and picked up defenceman Darryl Sydor for two years as well. The Edmonton Oilers made a surprising trade with the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday sending defenceman and captain Jason Smith, and forward Joffrey Lupul to the Flyers in exchange for defenceman Joni Pitkanen and forward Geoff Sanderson. To me the Flyers got the better of this deal. A solid defenceman, and forward with lots of potential. The Oilers lose their captain, and in return get a forward whose best days are behind him, and a defenceman with potential, but shattered confidence.

I love what the Flyers have done so far this off season. It's really hard not to be impressed with their pick-ups so far. This team should return to powerhouse stature very quickly.

Your friend on ice,
Captain bosh