Back in the summer of 1995, Devils’ assistant captain Bruce Driver made the ill-advised decision to leave New Jersey for a chance to shine on Broadway, playing for the high-profile Rangers — a choice that only served to accelerate the conclusion of the defenseman’s stellar NHL playing career.

Seven years later, the Blueshirts imported checking center Bobby Holik, inking him to an exorbitant five-year, $45 million deal. Clearly affected by his contract, Holik tried to do too much for his new team. But instead, he fell far short of expectations, leading to an unceremonious buyout following the 2004–05 lockout.

In both cases, the players’ shortcomings were exposed in ways they’d never been while they toiled for the musketeer-like Devils, whose “all for one, one for all” mentality enabled the team to be much better than the sum of its parts. Indeed, the Devils went on to win two more Cups without Driver, and one without Holik, proving that both players weren’t anywhere near as essential as they’d appeared during their moments of glory in New Jersey.

Given all that, there’s very good reason to wonder whether the Rangers’ signing of Scott Gomez away from the Devils this off-season will bear fruit — or whether he will turn out to be yet another high-priced free agent to wilt under the Broadway spotlights. But while Driver and Holik were both role players within a tight defensive system, Gomez also possesses a unique combination of speed andplaymakingabilitythatshould enable him to succeed anywhere he plays. With the Rangers, Gomez is expected to line up alongside Jaromir Jagr, and he’s relishing the opportunity to play with one of the game’s most dominantly offensive players.

“I’ve been fortunate to play with some guys who are just amazing,” Gomez said in a conference call with the press yesterday. “But [Jagr], you’re talking about one of the top five greatest hockey players ever to play, he’s that good. We’re getting used to each other right now — it’s kind of like playing with [Alex] Mogilny for the first time — you kind-of forget he’s on your line, but you can’t just stop and watch him do what he does.”

Gomez’s lines with the Devils were always amongst the most productive in the entire league. And like a good playmaker should, he was quick to deflect praise to his teammates.

“I saw (Mogilny) score goals where I’d just get the puck to him at the blue line and he’d take a wrist shot and score top shelf,” he continued. “[Elias and Gionta] always knew how to get open. You could just throw bombs at the front of the net and [Gionta] would always seem to get it.”

With Jagr, Gomez gets to play with perhaps his most talented linemate of all. But there will be some challenges as well, largely due to their stylistic similarities. “Jagr is probably the strongest player I’ve ever seen or played with,” Gomez said. “But I’ve never really played with somebody who likes to skate with the puck, too. I’ve always had the mindset that it’s my job as the center to get my linemates the puck and put them in a position where they have the easiest chance to score. I’m not going to change that. Hopefully it works out.”

Gomez has learned, during his time in New Jersey, not to get frustrated if the combination doesn’t immediately generate onice fireworks. Indeed, it took some time before he developed chemistry with his star-studded linemates in East Rutherford.

“Both [Mogilny and Elias] didn’t work out in the beginning,” Gomez said. “We got separated for a couple of weeks or a month, and for whatever reason, the next time you get back it just clicks. Hopefully it clicks with [Jagr] right away.”

Looking towards the other side of the Hudson River, the Devils are, as always, well positioned to handle the losses of Gomez and also of defenseman Brian Rafalski, who is now in Detroit. Zach Parise spent most of the 2006–07 season playing on the wing, but he is equally adept at center, as is team captain Patrik Elias. With Travis Zajac poised to build upon a very strong rookie season — and John Madden retaining his role on the checking line — the Devils are strong down the middle. On the blue line, young Andy Greene is expected to step up and play a significant role following Rafalski’s exit. But of course, the Devils’ success begins between the pipes.

“It starts with Marty [Brodeur],” Gomez said. “The way to win in this league is goaltending, and he could go down as one of the best ever. They draft great guys too. Especially Zach [Parise], he’s going to make some noise in this league. You’re there to win. You learn how it’s done and what’s expected of you, and at the end of the day, all that matters is that you get the two points.”

Gomez and fellow free agent signee Chris Drury will also be looking to build upon a strong tradition begun by Mike Richter and Brian Leetch, two American Olympians who enjoyed some of their finest moments on the Garden ice. “Richter and Leetch were our idols,” Gomez said. “When those guys won the Cup here [in 1994] it took hockey to another level for U.S. players.”

In joining this particular Rangers team, both Gomez and Drury are afforded the opportunity to fit into — rather than become the focal points of — a lineup that was already amongst the finest in the league. It’s not only up to Gomez and Drury, but also Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, and Henrik Lundqvist, to help the Blueshirts build upon last spring’s second-round playoff ouster, and rise back to prominence.

On January 24, 2008, the Blueshirts will raise Leetch’s jersey to the rafters, leaving one final deserved step (the retiring of Adam Graves’s sweater) remaining for the ongoing celebration of the 1994 victory. If Gomez and Drury can evoke the musketeer-like spirit embodied by the Devils over the past decade, while sidestepping the traps that befell the likes of Holik and Driver, perhaps January 24 will be as much a celebration of the Rangers’ future as their past.

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.