Rangers Set Their Sights High This Season

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For a brief moment on July 1, it seemed as though the hockey clock had been turned back and the New York Rangers were in the midst of one of their vaunted free-agent spending sprees. But times have changed, so the Rangers' acquisition of centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury isn't about having a bigger checkbook, just bigger vision (and money to support that vision).

After bowing out to Drury's Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs -- a series that turned on Drury's tying goal with fewer than eight seconds left in Game 5 -- the Rangers filled what was a significant void down the middle by bringing in two of the top three free-agent centers available. The moves do not guarantee the Rangers a trip to the finals for the first time since their 1994 Cup win, but the Rangers have justifiably set their sights high this season.

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