Flyers, Rangers load up

0 Comments | USA TODAY, July, 2007 | by Mike Brehm

The Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers got stronger Sunday at the expense of a couple of Eastern Conference powerhouses.

The Flyers signed Daniel Briere to an eight-year, $52million contract. The Rangers signed his former Buffalo Sabres teammate Chris Drury to a five-year, $35.25million deal, and New Jersey Devils No.1 center Scott Gomez to a seven-year, $51.5million deal.

Briere, coming off a career-best 95-point season, and Gomez will be making $10million, close to the league maximum, next season.

They were the top signings on the opening day of free agency, when most of the top forwards and defensemen changed teams.

Briere is leaving the NHL's top regular-season team for a last-place finisher. But the Flyers re-signed goalie...