Winger

The Flyers announced the signing of three players who were not with the club last season: defenseman Randy Jones, left winger Mark Murphy and right winger Mike Peluso. Jones signed a two-year entry-level contract, while Murphy and Peluso each signed one-year deals, assistant general manager Paul Holmgren said. Under club policy, financial terms were not disclosed. Jones, 22, was a first-team Eastern College Athletic Conference all-star at Clarkson University, where he was the most valuable player last season.

Months after asking the Columbus Blue Jackets to trade him, forward Rick Nash had his wish granted and is headed to the New York Rangers. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson announced Monday the club had dealt the big right winger, the team's captain and career leader in most offensive categories, along with a 2013 third-round draft pick and a minor-league defenseman. In return, the Rangers sent centers Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defenseman Tim Erixon, and a first-round pick next year.

Dino Ciccarelli and Mike Gartner, two of the NHL's top right wingers, have traded places. As yesterday's league trading deadline approached, the Minnesota North Stars sent Ciccarelli, their all-time scoring leader, who had expressed unhappiness with the club, and defenseman Bob Rouse to the Washington Capitals for Gartner and defenseman Larry Murphy. "I'm going to a contender," Ciccarelli said. "I'm excited about it. " Minnesota also acquired defenseman Reed Larson from the New York Islanders for future considerations and announced the retirement of center Dennis Maruk.

The graduation of 10 players, including several key scorers and its starting goaltender, hasn't slowed the Methacton ice hockey team. The Warriors are 7-0-1 entering 2000, battling up-and-coming Perkiomen Valley (7-1-1) for first place in the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League A-North Division. Their only slip-up was a 1-1 tie against Boyertown on Dec. 1. With the departure of two of the league's top scorers, center Mike Lattanze (26 goals, 27 assists) and winger Andrew Testa (25 goals, 18 assists)

The Flyers will put their top-ranked road power-play unit to the test tonight (Channel 57, 10:35) when they face the Los Angeles Kings at the Great Western Forum in the first of seven consecutive road games. The Flyers, third in the Patrick Division at 19-17-5, enter tonight's game with 20 goals in 82 power plays in 19 road games, the best in the league. And that strength could be firmed up even more with the return of right winger Tim Kerr. Kerr, who has missed the last 23 games because of an injured right knee, could return to the lineup tonight.

Ryan Tocicki was around when losses were commonplace, so he is especially enjoying Holy Ghost Prep's sudden rise to prominence in ice hockey. However, the ever-confident Tocicki isn't shocked by the team's 11-3-1 start in the Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League. "I expected this," the senior center said. "We have a nice mix of veterans and younger players, we're getting good goaltending, and we have a lot of confidence in ourselves. I knew, if we played up to our potential, that we could have a record like this.

A recent rash of injuries has hindered William Tennent's bid for third place in the Suburban High School Hockey League. Among the wounded Panthers are junior winger Nick Dyer (broken foot), sophomore winger Ray Stacy (back) and sophomore defenseman Anthony Vecchione (foot). In last Tuesday's 5-3 win over Archbishop Wood, sophomore winger Rob Beacham reinjured his shoulder. "We're hanging in there as best we can, but we desperately need these guys to come back and contribute to the team," said Tennent head coach Mike Lang.

Phantoms coach Bill Barber has rebuilt his team - line by line, newcomers around veterans, and speed couched with strength - for the start of another American Hockey League season. Barber used the team's spine - veteran centers Shawn McCosh, Jim Montgomery and Peter White, the three-time AHL scoring champion - to stabilize the scoring lines, and said "that core" was all he needed to give the defending Calder Cup champion Phantoms, the Flyers' top farm team, another chance at the title.

Conwell-Egan's Mitch LaFleur is not trying to fill the skates of former teammate and scoring phenom Brian Tetley. While LaFleur is quite capable of sticking the puck in the net, the senior center realizes that no player will duplicate Tetley's record-setting numbers. A standout for the Eagles from 1996 to 2000, Tetley scored 198 points, with 101 goals and 97 assists, over the last three Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League seasons. The speedy forward/defenseman led the Eagles to their first Class AAA Flyers Cup championship in 1999.

SUNRISE, Fla. - Flyers center Danny Briere, who missed the first four games because of a hairline fracture of his left wrist, made his first appearance of the year Saturday night. Before the game, Briere said he had no problems shooting the puck, but faceoffs still gave him difficulties. He began the night at left wing. Earlier in the day, general manager Paul Holmgren said Briere was "probably a no-go" for Saturday, but Briere apparently talked his way into the lineup. Briere played on a line with center Sean Couturier and right winger Jake Voracek.