"We now have the official report that the New York Rangers have agreed to terms with centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez..."-TSN, July 1st 2007

As soon as us Rangers fans heard or read that announcement, we were ecstatic. We had just become instant Stanley Cup Contenders in the eyes of the National Hockey League. The Rangers for once did not revert to signing old superstars past there prime. They went and sign the two best centers on the market, both young and in their prime. As the summer rolled along and the Rangers' roster became final, fans drew up line combinations that they hope the coaches would use and then fantasized what it would be like having this team together.

Jaromir Jagr would score 60 goals with Scott Gomez as his center, and more importantly, Gomez, a former Devil and Ranger-killer would not be opposing them anymore. Brendan Shanahan would then have a center more suited to his style of play and he would score 40 goals. Again, Chris Drury had been a Ranger killer the season before and all but ended their playoff run in 2006. He was an opposing player no more.

The Rangers roster was an all star team on paper. Two hall of fame wingers, and two marquee centers to play with them. The defense was a question mark but who needs defense when your team is going to score 5 goals a night? Oh, just wait until the season starts...

On opening night of the 2007/08 season, the Rangers scored on there first shot of the season (for the second straight year) but then quickly fell behind 2-1 to the Florida Panthers. The Rangers were actually booed off the ice after the second period. But, mid way through the third period the Rangers erupted for 4 unanswered goals and won the game 5-2. Fans celebrated the win and prepared to get used to sudden outbursts of scoring in clutch situations. With the offense and the goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist, they wouldn't lose a game.

However, the feeling didn't last long as the mighty offense was shutout in the next game by the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers offense would continue to struggle in October going 4-6-1 while scoring only 19 goals (while getting shutout twice) but the defense and goaltending was the bright spot as the Rangers gave up only 21 goals.

The Rangers' record in November was much better as they went 10-3-1 but still, something was not right. The Rangers' offense still had not scored more then 4 goals in a game and Jaromir Jagr had the worst struggle of his career. The neglect to re-sign Michael Nylander, Jagr's center was clearing proving to back fire as both Gomez and Drury struggled immensely. The only offense the Rangers were getting was coming from the defense and for a stretch of the three games, the Rangers defense scored a franchise record 7 straight goals.

The Rangers' December was one to forget as they went 6-6-1. The offense continued to struggle and Scott Gomez was no longer Jagr's center, nor was Drury. In fact, the responsibility went to rookie Brandon Dubinsky. The Straka-Dubinsky-Jagr line was amazing in a December 1st game versus the mighty Ottawa Senators. But after that the line looked clueless and the offense still struggled. Centers and line combinations were shifted once more and the powerplay that many predicted would be the best in the league was more like the joke of the NHL.

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