Rangers to mull offseason decisions

Once the New York Rangers figure out if captain Jaromir Jagr is in their plans, they will either regroup or reload.

Jagr will be a key figure in the coming weeks as the Rangers head into an uncertain future following a disappointing second-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After a shopping spree last summer in which New York landed prized free-agent centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, the time has come to decide if Jagr should be brought back or if the franchise should be built around younger emerging players.

The 3-2 overtime loss Sunday to the Penguins not only ended the season, but also might have marked the final game in Rangers uniforms for impending free-agents Jagr and the 39-year-old Shanahan.

Jagr's game picked up in the final few weeks of the regular season and in the playoffs when he posted a stellar 15. But Shanahan wore down. Shanahan scored a goal in Game 1 of the Rangers' first-round series win over New Jersey, then didn't have another one.

Jagr didn't tip his hand, but he certainly didn't sound like someone set to hang up his skates. If the Rangers prove not to be an option, the 36-year-old Jagr could look around the NHL for a landing spot or return to Omsk in the Russian League -- a team for which he played during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. The club has already begun courting him.

Jagr and Shanahan aren't the only players about whom the Rangers have to make decisions. Agitating forward Sean Avery will also be on the open market.

Martin Straka is a free agent as well, and could opt for retirement after 15 seasons. Michal Rozsival, Paul Mara and Marek Malik all can become free agents on July 1, and none is assured of returning.

BRIEFLY: Florida center Kamil Kreps and right wing Wade Belak signed two-year contracts with the Florida Panthers on Monday. Florida also signed defenseman Luke Beaverson of Alaska-Anchorage.

* The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with Finnish goalie Antti Niemi on Monday.