After Losing Messier, Rangers Go After Sakic

The New York Rangers, who lost Mark Messier to free agency nine days ago, signed Colorado All-Star center Joe Sakic to an offer sheet Wednesday. The Rangers reportedly offered Sakic a three-year deal worth $21 million, with $15 million as a signing bonus.

Sakic, 28, is a Group II restricted free agent, meaning the Avalanche has a week to match the Rangers offer. If it does not, Colorado would receive five first-round draft picks as compensation.

Sakic was the 14th-highest paid player in the NHL last season, earning $3.1 million. He had 22 goals and 52 assists in 65 games last season.

Earlier, left wing Mike Peluso, acquired by the Rangers from St. Louis as compensation for the Blues’ hiring of Larry Pleau as general manager, signed a contract.

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Nashville’s NHL expansion franchise turned to the minor league ranks, hiring Barry Trotz as coach and Paul Gardner to assist him. The Nashville team will begin play in the 1998-99 season.

College Football

Mississippi State running back Keffer McGee drowned Tuesday night in an apartment complex swimming pool about a mile from the campus in Starksville, Miss.

McGee, who took swimming lessons as a freshman four years ago, was with an unidentified female companion who authorities said could not swim.

McGee was ranked third nationally in rushing before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Mississippi State’s third game last year.

Pro Basketball

Gerald Wilkins, who has averaged nearly 14 points a game in 11 NBA seasons, re-signed with the Orlando Magic. The 6-foot-6 swingman played in 80 games last season--his first with Orlando--and averaged 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Free-agent forward David Benoit, who missed last season because of a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon, has re-signed with the Nets. Terms of the one-year contract were not disclosed.

Sheryl Swoopes, who had her WNBA career with the Houston Comets delayed while she gave birth to her son, will be activated for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Mercury at Houston. Swoopes’ return comes six weeks after she gave birth.

Sacramento ended a WNBA losing streak at nine with a 77-64 victory over Charlotte before 5,795 at Arco Arena. In another WNBA game, Phoenix defeated Utah, 78-46, before 11,694 at America West Arena.

Tennis

Chris Woodruff, who got his first tour title Sunday at the du Maurier Open in Montreal, lost to Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (8-6), in the second round of the $2.3 million ATP Championship.

Jurisprudence

Two Louisiana men have been arrested in connection with a murder-for-hire scheme against two part-owners of Lafayette’s minor league hockey team, according to U.S. Attorney Michael Skinner.

Businessmen and lawyers Ernest Parker of Lafayette and Logan Nichols of Jennings--both part owners of the IceGators hockey team--were the apparent targets of Richard Barnett, 51, and Virgil Drake, 60, both of Lafayette.

Miscellany

New England Revolution striker Joe-Max Moore will be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of an ankle injury.

Pat Garrity scored 20 points to lead the United States to a 90-66 victory over Lithuania in the under-23 World Basketball Championships at Melbourne.

Troy Dumais, a 17-year-old from Ventura, won the boys 16-18 three-meter springboard competition at the Speedo National Junior Diving Championships in Austin, Texas. It was Dumais’ 15th national junior diving title.