The Russian Rocket has landed . . . in Manhattan.

Five days after refusing to deal Mike York, Igor Ulanov and Filip Novak to the Panthers for Pavel Bure, Glen Sather pulled the trigger last night and simply stole the NHL’s most dynamic goal-scoring machine from Florida by somehow inducing GM Chuck Fletcher and coach Mike Keenan to accept a first- and second-rounder in 2002 and a fourth-rounder in 2003 in York’s place, while at the same time bringing a second-rounder back as part of the bargain.

Again: the Rangers on the eve of the trade deadline were able to acquire Bure, who will make his debut on Broadway tonight against the Canucks, for a first-round selection in what is universally regarded as a weak draft; Ulanov, whom the team has been trying to move for months; the junior defenseman Novak; a fourth-rounder in 2003; and a flip of 2002 seconds that will improve the Blueshirts’ position in that round.

Astounding.

“You sure don’t get the chance to get guys like Pavel very often,” Sather said. “The things he’s accomplished in this league . . . he brings people out of his seat when he has the puck, he makes us better in every way. He’s an artist. He’s going to be great for us.”

While acquiring Bure – who has scored 22 goals in 56 games this season of strife and despair in Florida, but who led the league with 58 and 59 goals, respectively, the last two seasons, and who has scored at least 51 goals in all five previous seasons in which he played at least 70 games – Sather continued to negotiate with the Oilers regarding Tom Poti.

But while the GM was able to keep York out of the deal for Bure, Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe was insisting upon the inclusion of the workaholic winger in any package for Poti. Indeed, Lowe was playing Sather against Mike Milbury, pitting the Rangers directly against the Islanders in a play to up the ante for his defenseman.

Most league sources believed that the Islanders would yield more for Poti than the Rangers -who were trying to conclude the deal in time for Poti to be available for tonight’s match.

Still, last night belonged to Sather, who pulled a coup in bringing the dynamic Bure to New York, where he has long wanted to play. The GM spoke by phone with Bure before pulling off the deal in an attempt to satisfy himself that the winger, who will turn 31 March 31, was indeed excited about coming to the Rangers, now in ninth place with 12 games to go and looking outside in on the playoffs for a fifth straight year.

Bure, who has two guaranteed years at $10 million per plus a one-year team option at $11M ($1M of which, The Post has learned, will be the Panthers’ obligation should it be exercised by the Rangers) remaining on his contract – no, there will be no restructuring or give-backs – assured the GM of his desire to earn his money in Manhattan. The deal was completed immediately after that conversation.

“He was absolutely thrilled. He told me that he had always wanted to play in New York and would do anything we asked of him,” said Sather, who had dispatched a Garden plane to Florida to transport Bure to Manhattan last night. “He was just great.”

“I have all my personal goals achieved, but what I want to do is win a Stanley Cup” said Bure, who has scored 406 goals in 651 NHL career games. “Glen has won five.

“I’ll do anything he asks of me.”

———–

NEW LIGHT ON BROADWAY

RANGERS GET

Right wing Pavel Bure

Panthers’ 2nd-round draft pick in 2003.

PANTHERS GET

Defenseman Igor Ulanov

Minor league defenseman Filip Novak

Rangers’ first-round draft pick in 2002

Rangers’ second-round draft pick in 2002

Ranger’s fourth-round draft pick in 2003

*

PAVEL BURE PROFILE

Position: Right wing

Shoots: Left

Height: 5’10

Born: March 31, 1971

* First two-time winner of Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 1999-00 (58G) and 2000-01 (59G)

* Also led the league in goals scored in 1993-94 season with 60

* Led all NHL forwards in average ice time (26:52) in 2000-01, the second straight season he led all forwards

* Sixth player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season with with two different teams (Florida and Vancouver)

CAREER STATS

Year Team GP G A Pts.

91-91 Van 65 34 26 60

92-93 Van. 83 60 50 110

93-94 Van. 76 60 47 107

94-95 Van. 44 20 23 43

95-96 Van 15 6 7 13

96-97 Van 63 23 32 55

97-98 Van 82 51 39 90

98-99 Fla. 11 13 3 16

99-00 Fla. 74 58 36 94

00-01 Fla. 82 59 33 92

01-02 Fla. 53 21 25 46

Career 648 405 321 726