One player he won't have to beat out is Wayne Gretzky, the first-line center.

A trade could shake the Rangers up, especially one for the first-line center the team desperately lacks.

Lindros, the first-line center, is entering his second season with the Rangers.

Mark Messier, Edmonton's captain and first-line center, was held without a goal for the third time this series.

"It's much better than yesterday," Lindros, the 30-year-old first-line center, said.

Entering that game, the Rangers' nominal first-line center had gone 12 games without a goal.

Messier, as captain, is the leader of the players and the first-line center.

Does he see himself, eventually, as a first-line center?

Both are first-line centers; both played in 46 regular-season games.

Steve Yzerman, the first-line center, would be worth more in trade than he is to the Wings.