Blue Notes

The biggest Red Sox fan on the Rangers is back.

Not unexpectedly, D Paul Mara inked a $1.95 million, 1-year deal that Sather put in front of him yesterday. On breakup day, Mara---an unrestricted free agent--- said he told the front office and coaches that he wanted to come back.

Did he like the moves that the Rangers made? "Absolutely," he told me earlier during a phone call. "Redden and Rozy are great. They're adding great pieces to the puzzle."

So the top 6 defenseman, as it stands now: Redden, Rozsival, Staal, Girardi, Kalinin, Mara.

Not too shabby, as the Scooter used to say.

Boy that didn't take long, did it?

UPDATE: Deal was confirmed by Jagr's agent Pat Brisson. "Jaromir signed a letter of intent with the Avangard Omsk Hockey team of the Russian CHL on or about 3am EST this morning. I won't comment on the terms of the agreement at this time," he told TSN. "It was a very difficult but personal decision to make in light of the many NHL teams interested in his services. He is grateful to the NHL and especially the Rangers in recent years."

Moscow, Russia (Sports Network) - The Russian hockey team Avangard Omsk announced it has signed former New York Rangers star Jaromir Jagr on Friday.

The team confirmed the deal on its Web site, but did not disclose financial terms. Local and international media are reporting that Jagr will be paid $35 million for two years. There is also reportedly an option for a third season.

Rangers general manager Glen Sather said Thursday the club could no longer wait for Jagr to decide where he wanted to play and signed former Vancouver captain Markus Naslund to replace him.

Jagr, who tallied 25 goals and 46 assists for the Blueshirts last season, also played for Avangard during the NHL's lockout season in 2004-05.

An eight-time NHL All-Star and 1999 Hart Trophy winner as the league's MVP, Jagr has registered 646 goals and 963 assists in 1,273 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Washington and the Rangers.

The Czech Republic native was also a part of two Stanley Cup winners in 1991 and 1992 with the Penguins.

Quick post-mortem on a wild and fascinating few days and nights:

Love Jagr. one of the classiest and most approachable star athletes I've met on this long journey since I started in the newspaper racket in the mid-1970s. Be grateful for the three years.

The Rangers seem to have had a plan on two players, Jagr and Avery, and held to their convictions. Maybe it won't work this season, maybe it will.

All I know is, it would have been easy to give in.

Now, save money and see if maybe, just maybe, Sundin comes around.

That's pro sports.

Sure there's some loyalty, some soul, which is good, but in the end, it's business.

Things change when you don't win..

The games change.

You adjust. Roll the dice.

Nothing's forever.

Defenseman Paul Mara could be back with the Rangers, according to Sather, who confirmed the offer today. Mara has said he wants to return.

So the D would be Redden, Rozsival, Staal, Girardi, Kalinin, Mara, plus youngsters in the wings. Upgrade for sure.

FYI: Naslund deal confirmed $8 mil for two...

Future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr's three-year tenure in New York is over.

Rangers General manager Glen Sather said this afternoon that he spoke with the Czech superstar, who is an unrestricted free agent, and told him that the club was moving in another direction.

"It was a very cordial parting," Sather said, adding that the 36-year-old was seriously considering an offer that his agent was reviewing from Russia.

Click here for the full story.

Swedish left wing Markus Naslund, who played in Vancouver for 12 years is the newest Ranger, inking a two-year deal. They also added defenseman Dmitri Kalinin from Buffalo.

Naslund, who turns 35 on July 30, was 25-30-55 last season, and had four goals in a dozen playoff games for the Canucks. He had been the captain there for eight years. "I wanted to be signing with a Cup contender," he said.

"Right from noon on July 1, my eye was on the Rangers, it took a little longer than I thought," said Naslund, who said he spoke with former coach Tom Renney several times. "Having Henrik back there was a big selling point for me. I think that's where you have to start building a team...."

That's what one source tells me....but no confirmation