Rangers Keep Their Man

Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, has signed a contract extension with the New York Rangers.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Gretzky said Thursday at Madison Square Garden, where the team announced the deal. “For a professional athlete, this is the greatest city to compete in.”

The contract extension will keep the 36-year-old center with the Rangers for at least two more seasons. Gretzky will earn at least $7 million this season and at least $5.5 million the following year, plus hefty bonuses.

Beyond that, it’s up to Gretzky. If he wants to continue playing, the Rangers will gladly give him a uniform.

“Hopefully, he’ll play many more years, but if it’s only a few, we’ll feel lucky for those,” said Neil Smith, Ranger president and general manager.

Even though he’s past his prime, Gretzky was good enough to lead the Rangers in scoring last season with 97 points (25 goals, 72 assists) and help the team reach the Eastern Conference finals.

He doesn’t know how much longer he’ll play, but he doesn’t sound like someone thinking of retirement.

“I felt I competed very well last year and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue this year,” Gretzky said.

*

Right wing Peter Bondra will return to the Washington Capitals today, ending a contract dispute in which the team suspended him for refusing to play while his contract is renegotiated.

“The parties have agreed that neither the club nor the player will comment on the contract issues,” Capital General Manager George McPhee said. “Peter’s focus will be hockey.”

*

A Swedish hockey team has filed a lawsuit against Barry Smith and the Detroit Red Wings, alleging that the Stanley Cup champions “intentionally and maliciously” convinced Smith to break a contract to coach in Sweden.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleged that signed a contract last Dec. 16 in which he agreed to be head coach of the Swedish elite hockey team until April 30, 1999. The contract permitted Smith to rejoin the Red Wings in March to temporarily resume his assistant coaching duties with them.

On July 16, Smith told the team he would not return to Sweden, the lawsuit said.

*

Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh of the Colorado Avalanche is expected to sit out weekend games at Calgary and Edmonton because of a separated right shoulder. . . . The Edmonton Oilers re-signed free agent defenseman Dan McGillis to a multiyear contract. . . . The Dallas Stars signed veteran defenseman Craig Muni to a one-year contract, three days after defenseman Shawn Chambers suffered a broken hand. Muni, a free agent entering his 12th NHL season, spent 1996-97 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.