Rangers agree to terms with LWs Hlavac, Rucinsky

Updated: August 28, 2003, 6:08 PM ET

NEW YORK - Enduring a relatively quiet offseason, the New York Rangers on Thursday agreed to terms with free agent left wings Jan Hlavac and Martin Rucinsky.

Terms of both deals were not disclosed.

It is the second tenure with the Rangers for Hlavac, who split last season with Vancouver and Carolina. The Czech native registered 10 goals and 16 assists in 61 games.

Hlavac, 26, began his career with the Rangers and played two seasons with the club before being traded to Philadelphia in August 2001 in a deal that brought Eric Lindros to New York.

In 284 career games, Hlavac has registered 73 goals and 90 assists. He had career highs of 28 goals and 36 assists in 79 games with the Rangers in 2000.

"Jan is a player who enjoyed success in New York and we feel he can be an asset to our hockey club once again," Rangers coach-general manager Glen Sather said. "He has the ability to produce solid offensive numbers and provides excellent depth to the left side of our lineup."

Rucinsky, 32, spent last season with the St. Louis Blues and collected 16 goals and 14 assists. He also is joining the Rangers for the second time, having played 15 games for the club in 2001.

Rucinsky, who also has played for Edmonton, Colorado, Montreal and Dallas, has career totals of 194 goals and 269 assists in 735 career games.

"Martin is a multi-talented athlete who can complement a number of the center icemen on our hockey club," Sather said. "He is an experienced player who can step right into our lineup and make significant contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice."

Unlike previous years, the Rangers - who have missed the playoffs in a franchise-record six straight seasons - have not signed any impact free agents this summer.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

ESPN Conversations

comments

MORE NHL HEADLINES