Less than 24 hours after Jaromir Jagr was told that the New York Rangers couldn't wait any longer to try to negotiate a new deal, the 36-year-old Czech right winger signed a lucrative two-year contract with an option to play for Avangard-Omsk, a Russian team that is part of the new Continental Hockey League.

No terms were disclosed yesterday, but the offer is believed to be the equivalent of $7 million U.S., tax-free, per season to play in Omsk, where Jagr had skated in the former Russian Super League during the NHL lockout in 2004-05. The team's general manager, Anatoly Bardin, had been publicly wooing Jagr since March.

While Jagr's signing generated the biggest buzz, the San Jose Sharks made two trades that altered the mix of their defense. First, they acquired defensemen Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich from the Tampa Bay Lightning, then they sent defenseman Craig Rivet to Buffalo.

To acquire Boyle, one of the game's premier puck-moving defensemen, the Sharks parted with defenseman Matt Carle and Ty Wishart, a top prospect as a defenseman. They also surrendered a first-round draft pick in 2009 and fourth-round pick in 2010. Boyle's acquisition followed by less than 24 hours the signing of bruising free-agent and frequent All-Star defenseman Rob Blake.

The Sharks replenished their draft stock by getting two second-round picks from the Sabres for Rivet.

For the past two months of the Rangers' season, Jagr insisted he had made no decision about Omsk and, when the team was eliminated by the Penguins in the playoffs, he said the Rangers would be his first option.

But he knew the Rangers, who had paid him $4.9 million of his $8.36 million contract (his former club, the Capitals, had been on the hook for the rest) were retooling around centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, who came aboard last July as free agents.

Had he so desired, Jagr could have accepted less money to remain in New York for a fourth season. Unable to decide, he was told by general manager Glen Sather that the team would move ahead without him, and Jagr chose to end an illustrious NHL career during which he won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins and scored more goals (646) and points (1,599) than any European-born player.

"It was the toughest decision in my life, hockey-wise," Jagr told the Canadian Press yesterday. "No question about it. I hate making changes. ... I'm thankful for the three years I had in New York. They were great years. I understand that I'm older and the team decided to go in a different direction because they couldn't get the deal done."

"Edmonton was probably the biggest offer I got," he said without being more specific.

Meanwhile, the Rangers signed defenseman Paul Mara to a $1.95 million, one-year contract, about a million dollars less than he had earned with the club last year.

The Sharks' need to address their defense became obvious during the playoffs, where they lost in the second round to Dallas. The pressure picked up again Tuesday when defenseman Brian Campbell signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent. But, after Blake signed a one-year contract for $5 million Thursday, San Jose general manager Doug Wilson turned his attention to acquiring Boyle, who will turn 32 next week.

Boyle said he felt betrayed when the Lightning decided to trade him.

"I don't have the nicest things to say about what happened, but I don't want to dwell on this," Boyle said in a phone interview from his Ontario cottage. "I was misled and disrespected, and it was really not the right way to do a lot of things. I don't have anything good to say about how all this went down."

Boyle, who had a no-trade clause in his deal, looked at several possible destinations and quickly chose San Jose, which finished last season with the NHL's second-best regular season record and a Pacific Division title.

Boyle, Blake and Lukowich have championships on their resume, and Boyle and Lukowich were defensive partners on Tampa Bay's only Stanley Cup-winning team in 2004. Lukowich also won a championship ring as a rookie with Dallas in 1999.

Lukowich, a 10-year NHL veteran, had one goal and six assists for Tampa Bay last season, but he is best known for his hard-nosed style of play and shot-blocking.

Buffalo made a second trade, sending right winger Steve Bernier to Vancouver for a third-round pick in the 2009 draft and a second-round selection in 2010. Bernier has averaged 15 goals in his first three NHL seasons and is a restricted free agent without a contract for next season.