Rangers sign Holik from rival Devils

NEW YORK - Bobby Holik brings two strengths to the New York Rangers - excellent defense and playoff experience. <br> <br> The Rangers, who have missed the playoffs the last five seasons, can surely use both. New York allowed more goals last season than any team but Atlanta. <br> <br> Holik, an unrestricted free agent center who won two Stanley Cups with New Jersey, signed Monday night in a move general manager Glen Sather called an ``absolute priority.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``I wouldn&#39;t say we&#39;re finished looking at trades and the free agent market,&#39;&#39; Sather said. ``We hope that we&#39;re going to be in a position to make some headway this spring.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Last season, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Holik had 25 goals and 29 assists with the Devils. New Jersey also made a pitch to Holik on Monday, but he said the Rangers&#39; offer was the only one he seriously considered. <br> <br> ``I always knew it was a possibility this could happen, so I always knew what I wanted,&#39;&#39; Holik said. <br> <br> He reportedly will earn $45 million over five years. <br> <br> ``We did, in my mind, put in a very substantial offer this morning and we felt comfortable with the offer,&#39;&#39; Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told The Associated Press. ``There are certain things we can&#39;t control. It was a decision he had to make. It&#39;s his future, I respect that. I wish him the best.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Holik said ``there was a major philosophical difference&#39;&#39; between New Jersey&#39;s offer and New York&#39;s. <br> <br> ``I gave the Devils more than one chance, not just today, but over the last 13 months to sign me to a long-term deal,&#39;&#39; Holik said. ``I didn&#39;t make this decision just today. A lot of things have gone through my head this year.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Holik went to arbitration with the Devils last summer and was awarded a one-year, $3.5 million contract. <br> <br> ``I heard things that no player wants to hear,&#39;&#39; Holik said. ``I wouldn&#39;t mind if it was honest criticism, that you could take to heart. ... But it&#39;s a strange process.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Teams were able to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents after midnight Monday. <br> <br> Major free agents such as Bill Guerin, Tony Amonte, Curtis Joseph and Rangers goalie Mike Richter were expected to sign quickly on Monday, but only Adam Oates (Anaheim) and Robert Lang (Washington) worked out deals with new teams before Holik. <br> <br> Richter could still be a teammate of Holik&#39;s, even though his rights were traded to Edmonton in a bookkeeping deal Sunday night before the free-agent deadline. <br> <br> The Rangers&#39; top goalie under contract is Dan Blackburn, Richter&#39;s backup last season. <br> <br> Sather declined to discuss contract talks with Richter or any other free agent on Monday night. <br> <br> The Devils, eliminated by Carolina in the first round of this year&#39;s playoffs, now must replace Holik. <br> <br> ``First of all, you don&#39;t replace a player like Bobby Holik,&#39;&#39; Lamoriello said. ``He&#39;s a unique player. We have players we feel very good about. We&#39;ll see what else should be done and re-evaluate everything. <br> <br> ``We felt that this might be a possibility and we now have to look in a little bit different direction.&#39;&#39;