Gomez, Drury sign big deals with Rangers

The New York Rangers solved their problems at center in a big way yesterday, 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 two of the biggest-name 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 spring's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Gomez signed a 7-year deal with the Rangers worth $51.5 million - including $10 million next season. Drury inked a 5-year contract for $35.25 million; he will earn $7.1 million each of the next two seasons.

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, which will create a spot on the top line for Drury to play alongside Jaromir Jagr.

Shanahan hasn't signed a new deal yet, but has said he wants to return to New York.

Gomez, 27, 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, 30, scored a career-high 69 points (37 goals) for the Sabres last season.

* Defenseman Brian Rafalski agreed to a 5-year, $30 million deal with the Detroit Red Wings, shortly after defenseman Mathieu Schneider chose to leave the team for Anaheim.

"It was a difficult decision leaving New Jersey, the only team I've known, but I'm coming home to play for the team I grew up watching," Rafalski said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.

The three-time All-Star was born in Dearborn, outside Detroit.

Rafalski scored eight goals and had 55 points last season.

Schneider signed a 2-year deal worth $11.25 million with the Stanley Cup-champion Anaheim Ducks. The 18-year veteran will make $5.5 million next season and $5.75 million the following year.

* Forward Ryan Smyth has found a new home with the Colorado Avalanche.

Late in a frenzied first day of free-agent signing, Smyth left the New York Islanders for a return trip to the Western Conference.

The Islanders acquired Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers just minutes before the NHL trade deadline in February. New York gave up two players (Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra) who were former first-round picks plus this year's No. 1 selection to get him, but couldn't complete the big move by signing him to a long-term contract.

* The Minnesota Wild traded goalie Manny Fernandez, an original member of the 7-year-old franchise, to the Boston Bruins for forward Petr Kalus and a fourth-round draft pick in 2009.

* The San Jose Sharks have re-signed leading scorer Joe Thornton to a 3-year contract extension worth $21.6 million, keeping the 2006 NHL MVP in San Jose through 2011. *