HOLY CRAP! Rangers sign Drury and Gomez.

GiantFan

Bench Warmer
I'd say this will help them....

Sorry no link. The story was emailed to me:

Rangers sign free-agent centers Gomez and Drury

NEW YORK (AP) -- 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 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."
 
:dance:

:dance:

:dance:

:cheers:

:dance:


My dad is a Habs fan and was expecting them to sign somebody but they did nothing:lollol:
 
its amazing how fast some players signed But good moves by some teams i'm Happy the Ning Signed Ouellett from Pittsburgh hope he can help our 2nd line . He has Played with Brad Richards so thats a plus.
 
My best friend is a Sabres fan, he has not answered his phone since it was first announced that Briere went to Philly (congrats Kelly!) and I knew it was a lost cause to try again once Drury went. Either way, I am happy the Sabres won't do a damn thing this year and we will see Ruff's true colors at coaching when he has lost his main talent.
 
Rafalski to Detroit, 5 years, $30 million
Schneider to Anaheim, 2 years, $12 million
Manny Fernandez to Boston for Petr Klaus & 4th Rounder
 
yeah Gomers was on the market for 4 hours. he ended up in Chicago figuring that being based in a non-biased city would help if he wanted to go visit someone or they wanted to schmooze him.

I am so glad he's finally gonna get paid. His dad was looking hard at LA Kings, but Gomers didn't want LA to capitalize on the "Hispanic in hockey" angle. He doesn't want to be known as the mexican who can skate just a guy who can put the puck in the net.

Gonna be hard for me to be a Rangers fan though.
 
yeah Gomers was on the market for 4 hours. he ended up in Chicago figuring that being based in a non-biased city would help if he wanted to go visit someone or they wanted to schmooze him.

I am so glad he's finally gonna get paid. His dad was looking hard at LA Kings, but Gomers didn't want LA to capitalize on the "Hispanic in hockey" angle. He doesn't want to be known as the mexican who can skate just a guy who can put the puck in the net.

Gonna be hard for me to be a Rangers fan though.

Screw that scrappy. Jump on the bangwagon!
 
Screw that scrappy. Jump on the bangwagon!

well i know they are going to be the team to beat and since Gomers is from here and I know him, I have to root for whatever team he's on. we don't get a whole lot of East Coast teams aired here but I bet they will start.
 
Flyers have signed Briere, Hartnell, Jason Smith, Timmonen and one other guy I can't remember. They will be a vastly improved team this year.
 
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