The Buffalo Sabres’ reign in the East might be over.
The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers raided Buffalo of its two leaders on the first day of NHL free agency Sunday.
First, Sabres co-captain Daniel Briere signed a whopping eight-year, $52 million deal with the Flyers. Then, the Rangers piled on, signing the other co-captain, Chris Drury, to a five-year, $35.25 million contract.
Perhaps, it’s no coincidence the Flyers and Rangers targeted Buffalo, a team that had reached and lost the Eastern Conference finals in each of the past two years. Also notable, the Rangers, this past spring, and Flyers, last year, had been eliminated by the Sabres in the playoffs.
The Rangers made an additional splash when they signed New Jersey center Scott Gomez to a seven-year, $51.5 million contract.
Earlier, the Flyers had completed a four-player deal with Edmonton. Philadelphia acquired the Oilers captain, defenseman Jason Smith, and forward Joffrey Lupul in exchange for defenseman Joni Pitkanen and journeyman forward Geoff Sanderson.
Clearly, the balance of power has shifted from the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Sabres, to their big-market rivals to the East.
In other significant deals:
The St. Louis Blues signed free-agent left wing Paul Kariya to a three-year contract, adding scoring punch.
Kariya, 32, was the leading scorer the past two seasons for the Nashville Predators, electing to test free agency with that franchise for sale. He’s a seven-time all-star, including five straight berths from 1999-2003.
“We are excited to announce we have signed a world class hockey player as well as a first-class person,” Blues president John Davidson said. “Paul gives us instant scoring up front as well as bringing an entertaining brand of hockey.”
Kariya scored 76 points last season on 24 goals and 52 assists and had 85 points in 2005-06.
Sharks forward Joe Thornton signed a three-year, $21.6 million contract extension that keeps him with San Jose through 2011.
The Anaheim Ducks found a potential replacement in the event captain Scott Niedermayer retires, signing defenseman Mathieu Schneider to a two-year, $11.25 million contract.
Detroit quickly made up for Schneider’s loss by signing top-tier New Jersey defenseman Brian Rafalski to a five-year, $30 million contract.
Toronto signed winger Jason Blake to a five-year, $20 million contract. Blake’s stock rose after he scored 40 goals and 69 points – both career highs – with the New York Islanders last season.
Briere, Gomez and Drury were considered part of the top group of free agents and were paid that way.
Briere’s and Gomez’s contracts are structured so both will be paid $10 million next season. Drury, meanwhile, will be making $7.1 million in each of the first two years of his deal.
Gomez is a skilled offensive player who finally gets to escape the defensive-minded Devils. His production was down last year – managing 13 goals and 47 assists for 60 points – after scoring 70 or more in each of his previous two seasons.
Drury is noted for his leadership and versatility, a talented scorer who also proved to be one of the Sabres’ top penalty killers. He scored career highs with 37 goals and 69 points last season.
Briere was the top scorer available in free agency after finishing 10th in the NHL in scoring with 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists).
“Danny had many offers and lots of interest out there,” Briere’s agent, Pat Brisson, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “He is thrilled with the results.”
The Sabres, who won a league-leading 105 games during the past two seasons, won’t be bereft of talent, still having a star goalie in Ryan Miller and dynamic forwards Thomas Vanek and Maxim Afinogenov.
