New York ? The New York Rangers acquired forward Pavel Bure in a trade with the Florida Panthers on Monday night.

New York, which also acquired a second-round pick, sends disappointing defenseman Igor Ulanov and young defenseman Filip Novak to Florida along with the Rangers’ first- and second-round picks in this June’s draft, and a fourth-round pick next year.

“He’s a constant threat,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather said of Bure. “He’s someone who can score any time he gets the puck on his stick. He’s an artist. He’s a superstar.”

The deal was completed the night before the NHL’s trading deadline of 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

Sather, who believes Bure is one of the “top four or five players in the league,” has been involved in talks for the speedy right wing for about a month. Florida pulled the deal off the table Sunday, but called back Monday to ask if it was still available.

“It’s been a real roller coaster ride,” Sather said. “Whether they were going to do it or not. It was tough trade for them to do.”

NHL

Barnes out with concussion

Buffalo, N.Y. Â Buffalo Sabres captain Stu Barnes is expected to miss up to two weeks due to a concussion. Barnes, Buffalo’s second-leading scorer, was injured 90 seconds into Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay when he was hit hard from behind into the end boards by the Lightning’s Jassen Cullimore.

Coyotes demote two

Scottsdale, Ariz. Â The Phoenix Coyotes sent goalie Patrick DesRochers and right wing Branko Radivojevic to Springfield of the AHL. DesRochers, 22, was an emergency callup on Saturday when Sean Burke was out because of the flu. DesRochers was reassigned a day later after Burke made 40 saves in a tie with Minnesota.

BOXING

Tyson-Lewis fight discussed

Washington  Representatives of Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis were in Memphis on Monday to discuss a possible June fight at The Pyramid. Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel and Gary Shaw of Main Events, Lewis’ New Jersey-based promoter, met with officials of the 20,500-seat arena, which is leaving June 8 open for a possible Tyson-Lewis bout for Lewis’ WBC and IBF titles.

AUTO RACING

Stewart released

Darlington, S.C. Â Tony Stewart was released from a hospital Monday, a day after he was injured in a wreck at Darlington Raceway. Stewart underwent an MRI exam on Monday morning before doctors released him from a Florence hospital, track spokeswoman Cathy Mock said. Results of the test were negative, she said.

Judge refuses to ban DA

Santa Ana, Calif. Â A judge refused Monday to disqualify the Orange County district attorney from prosecuting the man charged with killing racing legend Mickey Thompson, ruling there was insufficient evidence to show a conflict of interest. District Attorney Anthony Rackauckas, who was then in private practice, did legal work for the racer’s family after Thompson and his wife were shot to death in front of their home in March 1988.

WNBA

San Antonio to have team

San Antonio  San Antonio will be home to a WNBA franchise beginning in 2003 if enough fans pay for tickets in the coming months. The deal, announced Monday by the San Antonio Spurs, calls for the new team to attract at least 6,000 season-ticket deposits of $50 each by Nov. 15.

NFL

Redskins sign Green

Washington  Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier snagged another former Gator, receiver Jacquez Green, who signed a three-year, $4.3 million contract Monday.

Late TV games might switch

Orlando, Fla. Â Important late-season NFL games this season might be switched from Sunday afternoon to Monday night to attract more viewers.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Monday the 2002 schedule, expected to be released in the next week or two, probably will allow one Sunday game in each of the last four weeks to be moved to Monday night. Any changes would be decided at least four weeks in advance.

The new plan must still be signed off on by Fox and CBS, although Tagliabue can unilaterally approve it for the NFL.

“We are surprised to hear of this through the press, since our executives met with the commissioner socially last night, and he didn’t mention it,” Fox Sports VP Lou D’Ermilio said. “That said, we look forward to hearing from the NFL with great interest.”

Ex-Brown files lawsuit

New York  A judge ruled Monday that the NFL cannot force a $200 million lawsuit into arbitration by saying that a union contract governs a player’s claim that his career was ruined when his eye was hit by a referee’s penalty flag. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch in Manhattan moves the case brought by former Cleveland Browns starting offensive tackle Orlando Brown from federal to state court. He rejected arguments from the NFL that the case should be out of the courts altogether, decided instead by an arbitrator according to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement between players and NFL teams.

Colts, Ismail agree to terms

Indianapolis  Qadry Ismail, who led Baltimore in receiving last season but became a victim of the NFL’s salary cap, signed a multi-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. The Colts announced the signing in a news release. Terms of the contract were not released.

Oakland hires Harbaugh

Alameda, Calif. Â Former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh was hired by the Oakland Raiders as an assistant offensive coach Monday. Jaguars sign receiver

Jacksonville, Fla. Â The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free agent wide receiver Patrick Johnson on Monday, hoping to bolster an offense that finished 22nd in the league in scoring.

Niners hire Tollner

Santa Clara, Calif. Â Former San Diego State coach Ted Tollner was hired by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday as their quarterbacks coach. Tollner was fired in November after going 42-48 in eight seasons with the Aztecs.

Browns to pick 16th

Berea, Ohio  The Cleveland Browns have their first victory of 2002. Cleveland won a coin flip against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday and will pick 16th in the first round of next month’s NFL draft. Atlanta will choose 17th. Both clubs finished last season with identical 7-9 records and their opponents had the same composite records, requiring the flip.

OLYMPICS

Skiers call for DQs

Geneva  Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, a four-time gold medalist at the Salt Lake City Olympics, was among several athletes demanding that medals be stripped from cross-country skiers accused of using banned drugs. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Monday it received appeals from six Norwegian athletes, Canada’s Beckie Scott, and the Norwegian and Canadian Olympic associations. Some of those who filed would receive gold medals if the complaints are upheld.

SKIING

Mendes wins giant slalom

Olympic Valley, Calif. Â Jonna Mendes won’t have much time to celebrate her national title in the giant slalom. Mendes won the women’s giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships for the second straight year Monday, and immediately began preparing for surgery on her right foot. Mendes finished two runs on a sunny day at the Squaw Valley ski area in 1 minute, 50.70 seconds. Caroline Lalive was second in 1:51.39, and Julia Mancuso finished third in 1:51.65.