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Adding the top two available centers -- Chris Drury and Scott Gomez -- to an already talented club that advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals will do that. Throw in one of the league's best goaltenders in Henrik Lundqvist, one of the game's top scorers in Jaromir Jagr, battle-tested veterans such as Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka and a worthy supporting cast, and the Rangers are the favorites to win their first Atlantic Division title since 1994.

There are, of course, questions to answer before any parades can be scheduled.

How will the high profile free agents jell with their new teammates? Who will fill the third-line pivot void left by the trade of Matt Cullen to Carolina and the inability to fit in Michael Peca under the salary cap? Will the team go with veterans in support of Lundqvist or youth? For the first time in several years, there are real expectations levied upon the Blueshirts. How will Tom Renney and his players handle the pressure?

What to look for in training camp:

Will the chemistry be there?

There is no doubting Gomez and Drury's ability, on either end of the ice. They instantly lengthen the Rangers' scoring depth and power play. But can Gomez mesh with Jagr the way Michael Nylander did in his two years? Both Jagr and Gomez like to play with the puck. What about Drury on a line with Shanahan and Sean Avery?

Exhibition games are usually ignored, but it will be interesting to see how Renney uses Gomez and Drury, and how comfortable they are in their new surroundings.

Youth movement?

The midseason decision to promote youngsters Ryan Callahan and Daniel Girardi worked wonder in the Rangers' late-season surge. Now that the franchise is back in the thick of the Stanley Cup chase, it will be interesting if Glen Sather and Co. will revert to depending on graybeards. With Cullen a goner and Sather unable to come to terms with Peca, there is a large gap in the third line center spot. In practice, Renney has used Callahan and Avery in that spot. That would weaken other lines. Twenty-one year-old Brandon Dubinsky or 19-year-old Artem Anisimov could make sense. Dubinsky looked good in spot duty last year. Left wing Nigel Dawes has impressed, too, as has former No. 1 pick Hugh Jessiman, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound power forward.

Who's on the blue line?

The top four of Michal Roszival, Fedor Tyutin, Marek Malik and Girardi are set. The rest of the group is a question mark. Can 2005 first round pick Marc Staal, the OHL's top defenseman last season, make the team? Will veteran Paul Mara and his big shot stay? What about 25-year-old Thomas Pock, inconsistent a season ago? Physical veteran Darius Kasparaitis is getting a chance to revive his career, too.

This group was shaky early and solid late, as good a reason as any for the late-season run to the playoffs. It is certainly the unit filled with the most question marks.

Who's got Lundqvist's back?

Will it be Stephen Valiquette or Al Montoya. Valiquette, a 30-year-old journeyman from Etobicoke, Ontario, was 1-2 with a 3.13 goals against average filling in for injured backup Kevin Weekes late last year, while Montoya, the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, was 27-17-0 with a 2.30 goals against average. It may not seem too important, but if the Rangers are to play deep into the spring, Lundqvist will need to be fresh. That happens if he gets enough off days during the regular season.