The Rangers got in early on the first day of free agency with a visit by assistant coach Terry O'Reilly paying an early morning visit to Bill Guerin.  Although nothing has come of that particular soiree as of this time, the Rangers were thought to be well and truly in the hunt for the two time 40 goal scorer.

Meanwhile across the river, another story was unfolding.  Long time nemesis, Bobby Holik was ready to put his signature on a whopping $45,000,000 contract that could make him the highest paid second (or maybe third) liner in the league.  "He is one of the league's premier two-way centermen, combining superlative size and passion for the game with an intense desire to win and excellent leadership qualities," was how the Rangers GM described his first acquisition.

The contract immediately drew fire from fans across the league who accused the Rangers of pushing the envelope too far in the free agency market.  "It was about the money" said a candid Bobby Holik on WFAN.  The large sum included a $10.5 million bonus which puts his yearly rate at around $6.875 million...not bad for a guy the Devils could have signed for around $5 million last August.

Not content to sit back on day two, Sather opened his wallet once again to bring in what he hopes will be the player who can make an impact on the worst defense in the league.  29 year old free agent Darius Kasparaitis was looking for an eight year deal, but ended up setting for the Rangers six year offer at $25.5 million.

Kasparaitis also completes a bizarre scenario in which each of the Rangers Atlantic Division rivals has contributed a piece to the puzzle.  Lindros from Philadelphia, Trottier off the Island, Holik from the Swamp and Kaspar from the Pens...after all if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

E-mail the author

Additional stories from this Author: Select Story... Multiple Changes Tonight? Injuries Shaping Both Teams It's Okay To Be Optimistic 14,645 Why They Never Met An Historic Performance Game 7 Experience Marc Staal Back - Kind Of Unusual Suspects Rangers Still Under Pressure Could Clowe Be Close To Playing? Rangers vs. Capitals - Your Final Matchup Familiarity Breeds Contempt Notes From Practice April 30th Practice Notes Injury Update Former Rangers Missing Out Hot April Paves Way For Playoffs Rangers and Caps Schedule set Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue Rangers Claim 6th With Strong Finish Rangers Clinch Playoffs Rangers Move Up To 7th Stu Bickel Clears Waivers Jeff Halpern claimed by Canadiens Maybe Biron Should Pilot Rangers Against Jets Cally Happy To Buffalo Sabres Callahan scores luck 113th goal Hamrlik Claimed From Caps Staal Feeling Swell Callahan Continues To Lead Hagelin Strikes Lightning Twice Girardi Making Progress Gaborik Liking Island Life Girardi Out; Callahan In; Boyle Scratched First Things First Mashinter Sent Back Down; Kreider Ready? Mike Rupp dealt to Wild for Powe and Palmieri Rangers Call-up Miller and Mashinter Captain Returns To Ice Lundqvist Scheduled To Start Again Gilroy To Make Season Debut Rangers Acquire Benn Ferriero Rangers go down in season opener Season Preview Woe vs. Wade Latest Proposal Turned Down By League Meetings Continue - Crunch Time Meetings Continue NHL reportedly makes concession Players Are About To Start Losing Money Players getting bad advice? NHL unimpressed with NHLPA proposals NHL Releases New Offer Next set of games to be cancelled this week Stralman to go with #6? Big Apple Turnover More On Nash Jumbo Sized Speculation New York Rangers: All-Time Historical Performance Overview Dubinsky Takes It On The Nose Eminger Back In Line-up Avery Done? Dubinsky leaves game with injury Callahan Likely Back Tonight Are The Rangers For Real? Rangers Unveil Heritage Jersey After 20 Games - Team Stats Montreal: A Tough Place To Win Staal Reportedly Cleared For Light Workouts Surprising Rangers Near Top In League Rangers Sign Stralman Avery Clears Waivers, Rupp Could Face Surgery Avery On His Way Back Homeward Bound Bell to debut, Wolski a healthy scratch Over Time They're Getting Better Statistical Comparison - 4 Games in King Of The Road Woywitka To Debut Tonight More Line Changes? Rangers back in New York Brad Timing Kings Reign Over Blueshirts Rangers Claim Woywitka Avery, Bickel and Bell clear waivers Rangers Staaled Weise Clamed by Canucks Avery Waived Swiss Cheese Rangers Score Late To Get Past The Devils Rangers Lose In OT Line-up Announced For Preseason Opener Staal Sent Home Staal and Prust Sit Out Scrimmages Day 2 Summary Day 1 Summary Camp Under Way Camp Opens Tomorrow Rangers Come Up Short In Title Game Rangers Prospects Lose in OT Prospects To Play For Title Wednesday Callahan Named 26th Captain Rangers To Announce Captains 2011 Draft Picks Star Against Dallas Prospects Traverse Opener Successully Coming To A Head Who to watch in Traverse City Former Rangers Killed In Crash Who's On First? Was Time To Go Bahamanian Native Deveaux Signs With Rangers Traverse City Roster Released Rangers Add Depth With Bell Summer of Love Miller Signs Entry Level Contract Callahan Resigns Return of Eminger Prospal Signs with Columbus Pashnin coming to North America Dubinsky and Rangers settle on 4 year deal Boyle - Rangers agree to three year deal Sauer Signs Up For Two More Years Anisimov Signs Also Numbers Game Dupont Departs The Rich Get Richards Fed Reserved Brad Intentions Drury To Be Bought Out Drury To Stay 2011 Draft Recap Buy High, Sell Low Off-season Notes Game 4 - By The Stats Keep The Hits Coming Gilroy Expected To Get Discounted NHL Announces $2 Billion Tv Deal Whale Tie Series With 3-1 Win Series Is Closer Than It Appears Boudreau Bashes Blueshirts Former Ranger Sergei Zubov Retires Zuccarello Sent Down Biron Back On The Ice Back In A New York Minute! Rangers Shutdown In The Capital Game On Tonight! Not Working Overtime Inexperienced Rangers Head Into Playoffs Playoffs Baby Playoffs! Post Season Schedule Announced Playoffs Edging Closer Just One Minor Deal Rangers Acquire Bryan McCabe Character Win In The Capital Banged Up Rangers Take On Caps Island Life Opening Night Hats Off To Derek Stepan Williams The Younger From A to Z Banking On The Fed Where There's A Will Season Projections Home Grown White Out Room For Optimism - Part II Room For Optimism - Part I Room For Optimism - Part III A Word To The Weise Valentenko Has A Nose For Hockey Camp Fire Stories Fedotenko signs $1M - 1 Year Deal Cam-tastic Rangers Trim Roster Stepan Up Capital Punishment Marc'ed Up The One That...Almost...Got Away Just In Case Sweet On Sauer Rangers High Five Wings Not So Rosy-val In Brandon We Prust More Cuts As Rangers Trim 11 Waived Redden Line Dancing Free Agents Sometimes Prospal Winged In Detroit I'm Not Dead Yet Wade Ridding First Cuts Are The Deepest Well Isle Be Kris Crosses Over Rangers Open Up Preseason With Win 4-3 in OT The Battle For Spots Mac On Track Right On McCue One Goal In Mind Camp Day 4: Stars Rising And Falling Two Days Of Camp...what have we learned Ask Not What Your Team Can Do For You Sam I Am Czech Him Out Woody...Is That A....Johnson Rangers Training Camp Preview Rangers Agree To Terms With Marc Staal Prospects Star Against Dallas Prospecting For Gold Camp Roster Published and Staal Deal 'Close' Prospects Fall In Wild Game Dan Is The Man On The Matt Ranger Prospects Shutout by Hurricanes Oh MG Invitations Are Out Did Steve Tell You That Perchance? Prospect Open With 5-4 Win A-Fro Stylin' Prospects In Action Saturday Better Playing Through Chemistry Staal And Rangers Talking Dubie-ous Consequences Captain Kangaroo Rangers Gear Up For Preseason Tysen. It's What Your Team Deserves Now In 3D - Devin DiDiomete Oh Brother, It's A Baldwin Delving Into Del Zotto Center Of Attention The Big Chappell Forward Motion Callahan, A Good And Great Man Reports: Rangers sign Tim Kennedy Byers Beware Bringing To A Steady Boyle The Boogeyman Avery Labeled For The Bench? Now We Have Our Own Marty Artie Facts Cap In Hand? Putting Out The Brash Season Ends Abruptly It Comes Down To One Game Rangers A Little Prusty In Florida Avery Back And Bad Gaborik v Carcillo - The Rematch Blueshirts Shutdown and Shutout Capitals Tonight Blueshirts Host Pens Tonight Lundqvist's 50 Not Enough Quiet Day For Rangers Rangers Add Minor Leaguers Blueshirts Fillibuster Senators Olympics Are Done: Game On! Drury Scores In Upset Win Olympics Move Into High Gear Rangers Feature On Day Two Olympic Hockey Starts Today Rangers Give Themselves A Chance Brash Decisions Blue Poppy Syndrome Deja Blue Christmas Comes Early For Rangers Rangers Mauled By Sharks Rangers Match Best Ever Start To Season Week 3 Preview King Subjects Kings To Royal Performance Rangers Rake Leafs 7-2 Powerful Play From Rangers Denies Ducks Weekly Preview: October 9th - 15th Rangers Cap Off First Week With A Win Young Guns II A Rivalry Renewed Rangers' Open House Draws Rave Reviews Penguins Ice Rangers At The Igloo Opening Night Statistics Weekly Preview: October 2nd-8th The Official Unofficial Season Preview And Then There Were 22 Should They Stay, Or Should They Go Shut Up And Coach Dubinsky Signed, Rangers Cut 5 More Dubinsky Lowers His Asking Price Third Day Sees Gaborik On The Ice Day 2 Notes Training Camp - Day One Notes Camp Opens Today O Is For Offense Sullivan Announced As Assistant Rangers To Open Up In Pittsburgh Preseason Schedule Announced Callahan Agrees To New Contract Korpikoski Traded Gaborik Ready To Go Rangers Order A Buffalo Wing The Best Defense Is A Good Offense Bye Bye Nikolai [Cap] Space...The Final Frontier Unpleasant Truths Plumbing The Depth Active Day For Rangers Rangers Add Gaborik, Brashear Rangers Open Up With Blockbuster Trade Avery In The News Post Game 4 News And Notes Odds On Favorites Game 3 Tonight At The Garden Lundqvist Puts In Capital Performance Is That You Rod? Playoffs Within Sight Loss Puts Rangers In A Tough Spot It Doesn't Get Easier Fright Night No Help Wild Night For Rangers Rangers Lose To Sens, Recall Sauer Closer Than It Looked Senators Visit New York No Help Last Night Rangers Remain In 6th, More To Watch Tonight Rangers Sign Paul Crowder Waiting For Saturday Torts Takes Aim At Shootouts Rangers In 6th - Isles No Longer A Threat One For The Road Avery Powers Rangers To Win OTG Notebook: March 6 Inside The Numbers OTG Notebook: March 5 Grass Isn't Always Greener Meeting The Deadline OTG Notebook: March 4 OTG Notebook: March 3 Oh Grate OTG Notebook: March 2 OTG Notebook: February 28 OTG Notebook: February 26 OTG Notebook: February 25 Pluses and Minuses Change As Good As A Holiday? OTG Notebook: February 24 OTG Notebook: February 23 Renney Last To Fall OTG Notebook: February 19 OTG Notebook: February 18 OTG Notebook: January 27 OTG Notebook: January 26 OTG Notebook: January 25 Home Cooking OTG Notebook: January 24 OTG Notebook: January 23 OTG Notebook: January 22 OTG Notebook: November 8 OTG Notebook: November 1 OTG Notebook: October 30 OTG Notebook: October 29 OTG Notebook: October 27 OTG Notebook: October 22 OTG Notebook: October 21 OTG Notebook: October 20 Happy Vally OTG Notebook: October 18 OTG Notebook: October 17 OTG Notebook: October 15 OTG Notebook: October 15 A Win Of Historic Proportions OTG Notebook: October 14 Dawes And Prucha On The Outer OTG Notebook: October 13 OTG Notebook: October 13 OTG Notebook: October 12 OTG Notebook: October 11 Still Unbeaten...Just Dubie Dubie Does OTG Notebook: October 10 Have The Rangers Kept Up A Season Of Change OTG Notebook: October 9 OTG Notebook: October 8 OTG Notebook: October 7 OTG Notebook: September 23 OTG Notebook: September 22 OTG Notebook: September 21 OTG Notebook: July 31 OTG Notebook: July 30 OTG Notebook: July 29 OTG Notebook: July 28 OTG Notebook: July 25 OTG Notebook: July 24 OTG Notebook: July 23 OTG Notebook: July 22 OTG Notebook: July 20 OTG Notebook: July 18 OTG Notebook: July 2 Pennywise And Pound Foolish Sather Turns Defense Into Offense OTG Notebook: July 1 Rangers Sign Four, Re-sign Two OTG Notebook: June 30 No Such Thing As A 'Free Agent' OTG Notebook: June 29 OTG Notebook: June 28 OTG Notebook: June 27 OTG Notebook: June 26 OTG Notebook: June 24 Rangers Draft: Day Two OTG Notebook: June 23 OTG Notebook: June 22 OTG Notebook: June 21 Mixed Bag For Rangers In The Draft OTG Notebook: June 20 Rangers Preparing For Draft OTG Notebook: June 19 OTG Notebook: June 18 OTG Notebook: June 17 OTG Notebook: June 16 OTG Notebook: June 12 OTG Notebook: June 11 Critical Decisions OTG Notebook: June 5 OTG Notebook: June 2 OTG Notebook: May 28 OTG Notebook: May 26 OTG Notebook: May 16 OTG Notebook: May 11 OTG Notebook: May 9 OTG Notebook: May 8 OTG Notebook: May 7 OTG Notebook: May 6 OTG Notebook: May 5 OTG Notebook: May 4 OTG Notebook: May 3 Game 5 Is Alive OTG Notebook: May 2 OTG Notebook: April 27 OTG Notebook: April 26 OTG Notebook: April 25 OTG Notebook: April 24 Rangers Sign Wiikman OTG Notebook: April 23 Penguin On The Menu OTG Notebook: April 22 OTG Notebook: April 21 OTG Notebook: April 20 What's Next? OTG Notebook: April 19 Captain And The King Lead Rangers To The Semis OTG Notebook: April 18 OTG Notebook: April 17 On The Marc Diving: The Real Unsportsmanlike Conduct OTG Notebook: April 16 OTG Notebook: April 13 Things About To Get Interesting OTG Notebook: April 12 OTG Notebook: April 11 2-0, 2-0, It's Off To NY We Go What A Difference A Game Can Make Game 1 A Poor Predictor OTG Notebook: April 10 OTG Notebook: April 10 OTG Notebook: April 9 Heros Are Made In The Playoffs Cally Tallies In Opening Win OTG Notebook: April 8 Iocaine Powder...I'd Know That Smell Anywhere OTG Notebook: April 7 OTG Notebook: April 6 Fourth Still A Possibiity OTG Notebook: April 5 Home Sweet Home OTG Notebook: April 4 Playoff Bound! OTG Notebook: April 3 OTG Notebook: April 2 Jersey Bedeviled By Rangers Steady Freddie Scores Winner Rangers Bolt Tampa After Loss Rangers Sign Justin Soryal Florida, More Passionate About Their Game How Sweep it Is The Return Of The King Rangers - Isles II: Revenge Of The Blueshirts Well Isle Be Flyers Victims Of Death Valley Rangers Survive Hurricane Rangers Make Deals At Deadline Rangers Send Panthers Close To Extinction Avery Big Deal Bad Hab-its How The West Was Won Rangers Living The Hi-Life Putting On The Thinking Cap Caps Veto Rangers' Plans Leave It To Steve When An Asset Becomes A Liability Ducks Give Rangers Roasting A Royal Raspberry Rangers Dominate Hapless Thrashers Sabres Not So Sharp Do You Smell Something Burning? Shanahan Works Overtime Jagr Powers Rangers Past Leafs Captain, Oh My Captain Avalanche Wipes Out Rangers Back On Broadway Rangers Continue To Bedevil New Jersey Colt 45 Do Something About It Tom Offensive Liability The Best Defense Is A Good Offense Lundqvist Recovers In Shootout With Flyers Kids Night Happy Vally Home Cooking Road Worriers Zero Tolerance Lundqvist Dispells Devils Two Good Jagr Takes Bite Out Of Tampa Rangers Fall To Leafs Dawes Bedevils New Jersey Iced In The Igloo Bean There, Done That Rangers' Season Heads South Just A Minute SCOTTTT!!!! Powerless To Score Rangers Come Up Short Game On! Rangers Add To CD Collection Proud To Be OTG First Cuts Training Camp - Left Wing Training Camp - Right Wing Training Camp - Center Training Camp - Defense Training Camp - Goaltending Rangers: Games To Watch Rangers Do Not Pick Peca Goalie Matt Zaba Signed The 2006-07 OTG Awards - Vol. 2 Rangers Get An Oil Change Rangers Sign Anisimov Avery Arbitration Ruling Accepted Hossa Accepts Deal The 2006-07 OTG Awards - Vol. 1 2006-07 OTG Ex-Rangers All-Stars A Trip Across The Atlantic A Look At The Draft Win Or Go Home Shanahan. A Good And Great Man! Four And Out! Seven-Up! Shocked And Awed Unsavoury Avery Prince of Pests Everything's Just Peachy All Aboard! Justice Served, Penalty Must Follow Injuries Will Be Scapegoat Again Better Than They Look? Change Must Start At Top The Missing Link Painting A Picture Blackhawks Downed Bruised And Beaten Special Circumstances A Capital Effort Lightning Grounded By Grinders Adam Out Of The Big Apple For Sale Shooting Blanks King Abdicates Responsibility Avery Labelled As Agitator Heading South COPs Take Law Into Their Own Hands Leading By Example One And Out Balance Of Trade Ortie's Shortie Caps Win Rangers Claim Krog Senators Veto Rangers Comeback Betting On Betts Finally! Killed By Penalties Flyers Fire Back Marcel S.O. Captain Oh My Captain! Being A Fan Rangers Bear Down On Bruins JJ Returns In Loss Henrik Hosts Second Shutout Blueshirts Tame Panthers Rangers Beat 'Lowell' Devils Blueshirts Start Preseason With Win 2005-06 OTG Awards Pock Back 2005-06 OTG Ex-Ranger All-stars Rangers Sign 2005 Draft Pick Hossa To Return Blueline Now Set Ranger Re-Sign Rozsival On Schedule Mom's New Friend Moore Gets Hall Pass Ortmeyer And Lampman Signed The Story So Far... Irish Eyes Are Smiling Rangers Receive A-Ward Straka Returns Remember The Penguins Rangers Call In Cullen Risky Business After New York Everything Else Was Just Grave-y Mistaken Identity JJ And The Rangers Release Records Nieminen Finished As A Ranger Weekly Recap: March 5th March Preview You Betts! Prospect Review: 10-9 to 10-15 Lovin Henrik The Devil Is In The Details Caps Cap Rangers Prospect Review: 10-2 to 10-8 Rangers Lose Overtime Pay Balej Dealt To Vancouver Moore Is Better Wow Rangers Sign Graham Prospect Review: 9-24 to 10-1 Rangers Deal Murray For Hossa Blueshirts Double Up Bruins Blackburn Retires Rangers Stranded On Island Staal Signs Contract The Captain Retires Rozsival, Two Others Signed Lampman And Moore Signed Grenier And Giroux Sign Finn In, Trade Made Three More Signed Rangers Sign Three Poti And MacIntyre Re-Signed So Far...So So... Blueshirts Bring Back Betts Rangers Sign Defenseman Joe Rullier Nieminen and Ward Join Team Rucinsky Back And Pöck Re-signed Busy Day For Rangers Rangers Buy Out Holik Montoya Signs Rangers Ink Kozak Gernander Hangs Em Up The Rangers And The Cap The Neo-Optimist January Prospect Review December Prospect Review November Prospect Review October Prospect Review A Counter Proposal September Prospect Review Day One... Baranka Signed Falardeau Joins Pro Ranks Not A Foregone Conclusion Rangers Add Dawes Weekes Added Rangers Sign Veteran D-man Rangers Round Out Staff Wiseman Re-signed Two More Signed Nylander And Lundmark signed 2003-04 Ex-Ranger All-Stars 2004 OTG Awards The NHL Entry Draft: Day 2 The NHL Entry Draft: Day 1 Future Forward: Goaltender Future Forward: Defense Future Forward: Right Wing Future Forward: Left Wing Future Forward: Center Dark Days Excuse Me Richter Honored Rheaume Claimed Off Waivers Causes For Concern Jagr On Broadway Heerema Reclaimed MacDonald To Debut Rangers Sign Osaer Siklenka Heading Back To Philly Keefe Claimed By Bolts Rangers Add Depth Opening Nightmare Bouchard Comes Back Rangers Claim Two Training Camp - Day 2 Richter Hangs Them Up Bobo Comes Back Back To The Future Rangers add Depth Packing It In Ekman Sent To Sharks Healey Signs with New York Markkanen Signs Rangers Get Their Man Lyashenko Found Dead Big Names On The Move After Midnight 2002-03 OTG Awards 2002-03 Ex-Ranger All Stars Rangers Sign Pair At The Center Of It All Former Black Bear Signed Trio Of Moves Gordie Dwyer Claimed By Canadiens Rangers Exchange Minor Leaguers 10 Things I`d Change Kovalev Returns To New York Mottau Traded If I Could Be Like Mike More Questions Rangers Lose Back To Back Counting Chickens Winging It An Arbitrary Decision An Offensive Defense 2001-02 Ex Ranger All Stars Anything But Free 1st Annual OTG Awards - The Good Was Lindros Worth It? Make A Wish Meeting your favorite player Low Gone York Traded! Bure To Broadway! A Dinner With Dave Maloney Espo Shares His Thoughts Manny To Star In Dallas Bye Bye Billy The Devil You Know Fish And Chips Rants And Raves Getting Defensive You`re Killing Me Game On! First Cuts At Camp Czeching Out? Adding Some Punch Time To Move On Heads Up! Give Me A D! Mind The Net Hartford Gets A New Look Will Manny Make It? Much Ado About Something 2000-2001 All Ex-Ranger Team