And now for something completely different...

Goodbye Jaromir Jagr.

Hello...Markus Naslund?

Yes indeed Blueshirts faithful. The Jagr era on Broadway has officially come to an end. New York welcomes Former Vancouver Canuck Markus Naslund to the fold with a 2 year, $8 million deal. The Swedish winger has gradually lost his scoring touch over the past few seasons, but the Rangers hope he can rediscover his chemistry with centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez.

Jagr has still not been re-signed, but he will probably return to Russia for a lucrative contract with the Super League. Sather did not wish to wait any longer for Jagr to make up his mind and went after Naslund. The deal effectively ends the Rangers pursuit of center Mats Sundin.

The Rangers also signed former Buffalo defenseman Dmitri Kalinin to a 1-year deal. He lacks great offensive prowess, but he plays solid defense and will help bolster a Rangers blueline after the departures of Tyutin and Backman. Paul Mara was also extended a contract offer, Martin Straka officially departed for Europe, and Brendan Shanahan may still return next season.

The Rangers appear to have filled all the gaps in their lineup, combining their new acquisitions with prospects and existing players. The blueline should be greatly upgraded, but the offensive side of the puck may be weaker than last season.

One thing the Rangers are missing is grit and toughness. Avery brought a whole special dimension to the Rangers, and now that he's gone, there will obviously be a slight adjustment to their game plan. The top lines lack a bit of toughness, but the youthful core of the Blueshirts should help make up for this. From Staal to Dubinsky, the younger guys always play hard, fast, and tough. This is what the Rangers are hoping for - and this is what I think they're going to get.

For the moment, the Rangers have all the pieces they need to begin the season. All they need to do now is figure out how to put them together. A new era is dawning on Broadway. Let's hope it's an improvement over the last one.