The Buffalo Sabres' reign in the East might be over after the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers raided Buffalo for its two leaders on the first day of NHL free agency yesterday.

First Sabres co-captain Daniel Briere signed a whopping eight-year, $52 million deal with the Flyers. Then the Rangers piled on, signing the other co-captain, Chris Drury, to a five-year, $35.25 million contract.

Perhaps, it's no coincidence the Flyers and Rangers targeted Buffalo, a team that had reached and lost the Eastern Conference final in each the past two years. Also notable, the Rangers, this past spring, and Flyers, last year, had been eliminated by the Sabres in the playoffs.

New York made an additional splash when it signed New Jersey center Scott Gomez to a seven-year, $51.5 million contract.

And earlier the Flyers had completed a four-player deal with Edmonton. Philadelphia acquired the Oilers captain, defenseman Jason Smith, and forward Joffrey Lupul in exchange for defenseman Joni Pitkanen and journeyman forward Geoff Sanderson.

Clearly, the balance of power has shifted away from the President's Trophy-winning Sabres, to their big-market rivals to the East.

In other significant signings:

San Jose forward Joe Thornton signed a three-year, $21.6 million contract extension that keeps him with the Sharks through 2011; Thornton, the NHL's No. 2 scorer this past season, will make $7.2 million in each season of the new deal, earning a raise over the $6.67 million he will make this coming season in the final year of his current contract.

Anaheim found a potential replacement for captain Scott Niedermayer, who is expected to announce his retirement this week, signing Detroit defenseman Mathieu Schneider to a two-year, $11.25 million contract;

Detroit quickly made up for Schneider's loss by signing top-tier defenseman Brian Rafalski of New Jersey to a five-year, $30 million contract.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed winger Jason Blake to a five-year, $20 million contract. Blake's stock rose after he scored 40 goals and 69 points -- both career highs -- with the New York Islanders last season.

Rafalski, a native of Dearborn, Mich., who spent his entire seven-year career with the Devils, turned down several more lucrative offers to play for his hometown team, his agent, William Zito said.

In Anaheim, Niedermayer's uncertain status forced the Ducks to go after Schneider.

Schneider will make $5.5 million this season and $5.75 million the next -- an expensive contract for an 18-year veteran who turned 38 last month.

Even so, Schneider continues to be productive, having scored 50 or more points in four of his past six seasons, including 52 (11 goals, 41 assists) last year.

Meanwhile, Calgary bolstered its defense by signing Tampa Bay's Cory Sarich to five-year contract reportedly worth $18 million.

The Flames also are expected to announce today that they have re-signed superstar forward Jarome Iginla to a new contract.

Colorado signed a reliable defenseman, nabbing Scott Hannan from San Jose for a reported four years and $18 million.

Dallas re-signed defenseman Sergei Zubov to a one-year deal worth $5.35 million.

In other deals:

The Florida Panthers signed three players: forward Radek Dvorak to a two-year deal; center Brett McLean to a three-year contract, reportedly worth $5.1 million; and left winger Richard Zednik to a two-year deal reportedly worth $3.25 million.

The Washington Capitals signed former Islanders defenseman Tom Poti to a four-year deal reportedly worth $3.5 million, then signed another Islander, forward Viktor Kozlov, for $5 million over two years.

Chicago signed 14-year veteran center Yanic Perreault to a one-year contract.

Edmonton signed former Penguins defensemen Dick Tarnstrom and restricted free agent Denis Grebeshkov to one-year contracts.