KEY ADDITIONS				KEY LOSSES
Name Theo Fleury Valeri Kamensky Tim Taylor Stephane Quintal Slyvain Lefebvre Kirk McLean	Pos. F F F D D G	From Avalanche Avalanche Bruins Canadiens Avalanche Panthers		Name Jeff Beukeboom Niklas Sundstrom	Pos. D F	To Retired Tampa Bay/San Jose

Outlook
Totally revamped, the New York Rangers enter 1999-2000 hoping to avoid a third consecutive season without a playoff appearance.

		The Rangers had some great free-agent signings, like Theo Fleury and Valeri Kamensky, and a super draft. But willl Alexei Yashin arrive in New York in time for Thanksgiving turkey? Yashin would be the final piece to a great offseason puzzle that GM Neil Smith pieced together. If they can get a little jam on the blue line, all of a sudden the Rangers are an awesome team. Without Yashin, the Rangers should be looking toward the conference finals. With Yashin, a realistic goal is the Stanley Cup.

The Blueshirts experimented with their first line all last season, trying to find the right combination for Wayne Gretzky. With new players and Gretzky gone, that shouldn't be a problem anymore. Petr Nedved, Theo Fleury and Valeri Kamensky lead the way on offense, which will put less pressure on wingers Adam Graves and John MacLean to provide offense.

Unfortunately, the Rangers don't have a legitimate No. 2 center. It's very possible that 19-year-old Manny Malhotra could move into that slot by year's end. Tim Taylor, another candidate for that role, has been slowed by appendix surgery.

Look for right wing Mike Knuble to become more involved offensively this season, while rookies Pavel Brendl, Jan Hlavac, Jamie Lundmark and Mike York could all make an impact, althoug Brendl may not make the big club out of camp.

Stephane Quintal, who signed as an unrestricted free agent, will probably join Brian Leetch to make up the top defensive pairing. Mathieu Schneider and Sylvain Lefebvre look to be the No. 2 unit. Both Leetch and Schneider are key cogs in New York's power play, which finished second in the NHL last season. With the additions of Lefebvre and Quintal, defensive depth will be an asset.

The goaltending mantra for the Rangers is out with the new, in with the old. Say goodbye to youngster Dan Cloutier and hello to veteran Kirk McLean. McLean, you might remember, was the opposing goaltender in the Cup Finals when the Rangers ended their curse in 1994. But whether it's Cloutier or McLean, starter Mike Richter is still going to see the bulk of the action.

Last season marked the first time John Muckler was behind the bench for the same club from the beginning to the end of a season and didn't make the playoffs. Thanks to a $60 million spending spree, don't look for that to happen again.

'98-99 ATLANTIC STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	T	Pts.
New Jersey	47	24	11	105
Philadelphia	37	26	19	93
Pittsburgh	38	30	14	90
N.Y. Rangers	33	38	11	77
N.Y. Islanders	24	48	10	58

The bottom line
Better or not: Better
By how much: 5-8 more wins
Most improved: Manny Malhotra
Most valuable: Theo Fleury
Biggest disappointment: Valeri Kamensky

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.