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.

Gomez

Drury

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."